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DeKalb High School

Q: Is DeKalb High School a good school?

DeKalb High School ranks 65 th of 415 Indiana high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

65^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 415 Indiana High Schools

Better than 84% of Indiana high schools

Summary

DeKalb High School is a public high school in Waterloo, Indiana, serving grades 9–12 with about 1,007 students as part of the DeKalb County Ctl United School District in rural northeastern Indiana. In 2025–2026, the school ranked 65th of 415 Indiana high schools — the 84th percentile with 4 stars — well above its district's 52nd percentile ranking. That was its best showing in the years available, continuing a shift from the middle of the pack in the late 2010s into the 75th–84th percentile range in recent years.

Academic outcomes are a clear strength. In 2025–2026, SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing proficiency was 58.59% (state: 51.9%), SAT Math was 30.84% (state: 25.6%), and Biology was 59.47%, versus the district's 57.5% and a most recent state figure of 45.6%. Among nearby schools, only Carroll High School and Leo Junior/Senior High School score higher in both SAT subjects. DeKalb's overall rank and test scores beat Angola High School, East Noble High School, Prairie Heights Senior High School, Eastside Junior-Senior High School, Garrett High School and Hamilton Community High School. The 2024–2025 graduation rate was 95.7%, above the state's 89.7%, though Garrett, Leo, Eastside, Angola, Prairie Heights and Carroll all reported higher rates.

The main area to watch is chronic absenteeism: at 19.0%, it is above the state's 16.7% and the district's 13.1%, and higher than Carroll (12.8%), Leo (8.0%) and East Noble (13.0%) — yet it has fallen sharply from 49.9% in 2020–2021. Effectiveness for special education students also dropped to the 30th percentile in 2025–2026 from the 70th percentile a year earlier, while low-income students were served at the 74th percentile. DeKalb spends $12,438 per student with a student-teacher ratio of 17.6 — less than several nearby rural districts that post weaker results. Overall, DeKalb is a strong regional performer that trails only Carroll and Leo, both of which serve fewer low-income students.

1,007

Students ?

17.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,438

Per pupil spending ?

38.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3424 Cr 427
Waterloo, IN 46793

(260) 920-1012

District: DeKalb County Ctl United School District

Feeder schools for DeKalb High School:

Elementary:	Country Meadow Elementary School
	James R Watson Elementary School
	McKenney-Harrison Elementary School
	Waterloo Elementary School
Middle:	DeKalb Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.2%

Hispanic:

5.6%

Two or more races:

2.8%

See top rated Indiana high schools

Compare DeKalb High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 62nd percentile in 2016 → 84th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Indiana average (50% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Indiana high schools

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Indiana average (90%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg48%

Indiana avg39%

65^th of 415

Indiana public high schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 22 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

181^st of 374DeKalb County Ctl United School District among Indiana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	75.0	65 of 415	84.3%	★★★★☆
2025	60.9	135 of 429	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.9	81 of 432	81.3%	★★★★☆
2023	65.0	98 of 398	75.4%	★★★★☆
2022	65.3	132 of 409	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.9	71 of 388	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	56.3	144 of 389	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.6	158 of 385	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	50.1	187 of 380	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.8	150 of 394	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	59.7	120 of 400	70.0%	★★★★☆
2014	52.6	136 of 379	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.7	127 of 353	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	60.6	88 of 373	76.4%	★★★★☆
2011	62.1	82 of 364	77.5%	★★★★☆
2010	49.6	138 of 362	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.4	115 of 364	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.3	142 of 360	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	59.9	156 of 354	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	66.2	102 of 349	70.8%	★★★★☆
2005	59.9	157 of 349	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	71.5	71 of 395	82.0%	★★★★☆
2025	55.6	153 of 387	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.8	83 of 392	78.8%	★★★★☆
2023	59.4	132 of 388	66.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	44.5	95 of 194	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	16.5	161 of 181	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.8	80 of 184	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	84.3	27 of 164	83.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	65.1	100 of 390	74.4%	★★★★☆
2025	57.8	129 of 377	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.1	70 of 377	81.4%	★★★★☆
2023	67.6	75 of 379	80.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	74.6	60 of 397	84.9%	★★★★☆
2025	59.6	120 of 386	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.8	88 of 392	77.6%	★★★★☆
2023	67.6	84 of 383	78.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	32.6	204 of 292	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.4	89 of 298	70.1%	★★★★☆
2024	65.3	71 of 289	75.4%	★★★★☆
2023	68.1	55 of 285	80.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	69.1	76 of 387	80.4%	★★★★☆
2025	53.3	143 of 377	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.9	85 of 381	77.7%	★★★★☆
2023	56.0	121 of 375	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.5	166 of 378	56.1%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2026)85th percentile~ school

Female (2026)82nd percentile~ school

White (2026)80th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)74th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2026)51st percentile-33 vs school

Special Education (2026)30th percentile-54 vs school

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

Biology59%

Evidence-based Reading and Writing59%+7 vs state

Mathematics31%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near DeKalb High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT Mathematics (2026)	ILEARN English Language Arts (2026)				ILEARN Math (2026)				ILEARN Science (2026)		ILEARN Biology (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 7th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 8th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Science 6th Grade	ILEARN Science All Grades	ILEARN Biology End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
DeKalb High School	Public	9-12	3424 Cr 427	Waterloo	46793	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Ctl United School District	No	No	No	No	(260) 920-1012	1,007	57	17.6	38.6%	898 (89.2%)	4 (0.4%)	56 (5.6%)	15 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.5%)	28 (2.8%)	75	65^th of 415 public high schools	84.3%		60.9	135^th of 429 public high schools	68.5%	70	58.6	30.8											59.5	$12,438	$206	$12,232
DeKalb Virtual Academy	Public	6-12	1011 West 7th St.	Auburn	46706	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Ctl United School District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(260) 920-1010	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	10	380^th of 415 public high schools	8.4%					(n/a)	18.2	0.0											23.1
Garrett High School	Public	9-12	801 E Houston St	Garrett	46738	DeKalb County	Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com School Corp	No	No	No	No	(260) 357-4114	553	44	12.7	40.1%	488 (88.2%)	2 (0.4%)	35 (6.3%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	19 (3.4%)	31.8	294^th of 415 public high schools	29.2%		33.1	295^th of 429 public high schools	31.2%	1	41.5	11.5											33.3	$13,517	$740	$12,776
Eastside Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	603 E Green St	Butler	46721	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Eastern Com School District	No	No	No	No	(260) 868-2186	559	44	12.7	45.1%	520 (93.0%)	5 (0.9%)	22 (3.9%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	49.6	196^th of 415 public high schools	52.8%		59.8	140^th of 429 public high schools	67.4%	56	38.0	18.5		36.8	51.1	44.1		43.7	43.3	43.5			60.9	$16,173	$606	$15,567
Hamilton Community High School	Public	6-12	903 S Wayne St	Hamilton	46742	Steuben County	Hamilton Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 488-2161	183	22	8.5	49.2%	172 (94.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	40.9	248^th of 415 public high schools	40.2%		26.6	318^th of 429 public high schools	25.9%	70	27.3	9.1	31.0	32.3	30.4	31.3	27.6	16.1	21.7	21.7	44.8	44.8	76.2	$19,853	$168	$19,685
Impact Institutue	Public	6-12	1607 E Dowling St	Kendallville	46755	Noble County	DeKalb County Eastern Com School District	No	No	No	No	(888) 349-0250	0	21	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
East Noble High School	Public	9-12	901 Garden St	Kendallville	46755	Noble County	East Noble School Corporation	No	No	No	No	(260) 347-2032	1,019	68	14.9	32.5%	909 (89.2%)	8 (0.8%)	76 (7.5%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.2%)	53.8	167^th of 415 public high schools	59.8%		63.8	117^th of 429 public high schools	72.7%	50	51.5	28.3											36.5	$11,944	$573	$11,371
Leo Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	14600 Amstutz Rd	Leo	46765	Allen County	East Allen County Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 446-0180	1,328	76	17.4	18.8%	1,138 (85.7%)	29 (2.2%)	61 (4.6%)	15 (1.1%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	81 (6.1%)	82.9	37^th of 415 public high schools	91.1%		79.3	49^th of 429 public high schools	88.6%	12	77.5	39.7		57.1	52.1	54.6		38.4	37.7	38.1			53.3	$10,320	$732	$9,588
Angola High School	Public	9-12	350 S John McBride Ave	Angola	46703	Steuben County	MSD Steuben County	No	No	No	No	(260) 665-2186	714	50	14.2	41.3%	572 (80.1%)	6 (0.8%)	101 (14.1%)	7 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (3.5%)	63.8	110^th of 415 public high schools	73.5%		63.3	120^th of 429 public high schools	72.0%	10	53.2	28.2											46.5	$11,200	$520	$10,680
Carroll High School	Public	9-12	3701 Carroll Rd	Fort Wayne	46818	Allen County	Northwest Allen County Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 637-3161	2,623	145	18.0	22.9%	2,027 (77.3%)	97 (3.7%)	167 (6.4%)	172 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	158 (6.0%)	84.3	31^st of 415 public high schools	92.5%		85.8	27^th of 429 public high schools	93.7%	4	70.0	40.6											59.1	$9,546	$320	$9,226

Frequently Asked Questions about DeKalb High School

What district is DeKalb High School in?

DeKalb County Ctl United School District

What is the racial makeup of DeKalb High School?

Students at DeKalb High School are 89% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is DeKalb High School a good school?

DeKalb High School ranks 65^th of 415 Indiana high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend DeKalb High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,007 students attended DeKalb High School.

What schools feed into DeKalb High School?

DeKalb High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Country Meadow Elementary School
Elementary : James R Watson Elementary School
Elementary : McKenney-Harrison Elementary School
Elementary : Waterloo Elementary School
Middle : DeKalb Middle School

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2025–26 ILEARN & SAT test scoresNewSep 25, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 5, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataSep 4, 2025

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJul 16, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Indiana Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.