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Waterloo Elementary School

Q: Is Waterloo Elementary School a good school?

Waterloo Elementary School ranks 719 th of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

719^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,015 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Waterloo Elementary School is a small PK–5 school serving 247 students in the rural town of Waterloo, Indiana, part of the DeKalb County Ctl United School District. In 2025–2026 it ranked 719th of 1,015 Indiana elementary schools (29th percentile, 1 star), while the district overall sits at the 52nd percentile with 3 stars. It is the lowest-ranked of the district's four elementary schools and has earned 1 star every year since 2020–2021.

English Language Arts is the clearest weakness. All-grades ELA proficiency was 20.25%, compared with 40.64% for the district, and it has hovered near 20% for four years; third-grade ELA was just 14.29%. Among nearby schools, only Butler Elementary School was lower at 19.82%, while same-district James R Watson Elementary School reached 48.36%, McKenney-Harrison Elementary School 39.56%, and Country Meadow Elementary School 36.57%. Fifth-grade Social Studies was a severe outlier at 20%, versus 47.69% district and 47.2% state — the lowest among nearby schools. Math (40.51%) and Science (42.86%) both exceed district averages, though 5th-grade math (30%) is a weak point.

Chronic absenteeism has improved from 21.9% in 2020–2021 to 12.9% in 2024–2025, now better than district and state averages, though strong nearby schools such as Wayne Center Elementary School (5.1%) and J E Ober Elementary School (5.6%) remain far lower. About 63.56% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, and per-student spending was $13,076 with a student–teacher ratio of 17.7 — more spending than Watson ($9,898) despite much lower ELA results. Early literacy and targeted 5th-grade support look like the biggest levers for improvement.

247

Students ?

17.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,076

Per pupil spending ?

63.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

300 E Douglas St
Waterloo, IN 46793

(260) 920-1011

District: DeKalb County Ctl United School District

Students who attend Waterloo Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	DeKalb Middle School
High:	DeKalb High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.5%

Two or more races:

4.0%

Hispanic:

3.6%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Waterloo Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 29th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (30% vs 47% meeting standards)

!Social Studies scores 27 pts below the Indiana average

!Near the bottom of DeKalb County Ctl United School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg41%

Indiana avg47%

719^th of 1,015

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4Elementary Schools in the DeKalb County Ctl United School District

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	30.1	719 of 1015	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.5	734 of 1005	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.7	748 of 1011	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.2	757 of 1016	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.7	743 of 1020	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.9	777 of 1016	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.8	685 of 1031	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.1	701 of 1027	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	35.0	754 of 1033	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	42.1	712 of 1046	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	24.4	870 of 1040	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	57.1	509 of 1036	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	46.8	663 of 1035	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	39.0	734 of 1015	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.4	762 of 1025	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	25.1	838 of 1009	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	34.9	749 of 1003	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	5.4	967 of 996	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	15.2	892 of 985	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	20.9	837 of 961	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	23.4	821 of 959	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

Science43%

Math41%

English Language Arts20%

Social Studies20%-27 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

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1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, October 25, 2012

I love this school! My daughter is in 1st grade and I have 2 other girls that have gone here as well (they are both grown). Waterloo School puts emphasis on math and reading as early as Kindergarten. My daughter was reading me books in Kindergarten as early as 1 month after starting. My child loves this school and I have not heard anything negative from any of my girls about their experience here. The staff knows each child by name and teaching is personalized. As soon as my child's first grade teacher realized she was ahead of the other students in math she gave her different homework from the other kids to challenge her. The school also has many other extra curricular programs as well, including art, computers and music among others. Close Quote

Schools Near Waterloo Elementary 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)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2026)					ILEARN Math (2026)					ILEARN Science (2026)			ILEARN Social Studies (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	ILEARN English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 4th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 5th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Science 4th Grade	ILEARN Science 6th Grade	ILEARN Science All Grades	ILEARN Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Waterloo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	300 E Douglas St	Waterloo	46793	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Ctl United School District	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 920-1011	247	14	17.7	63.6%	226 (91.5%)	2 (0.8%)	9 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.0%)	30.1	719^th of 1015 public elementary schools	29.2%		29.5	734^th of 1005 public elementary schools	27.0%	15	14.3	28.6	20.0		20.3	39.3	57.1	30.0		40.5	42.9		42.9	20.0	$13,076	$1,395	$11,682
James R Watson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	901 Eckhart Ave	Auburn	46706	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Ctl United School District	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 920-1014	590	30	19.3	40.2%	526 (89.2%)	3 (0.5%)	45 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	12 (2.0%)	68.6	304^th of 1015 public elementary schools	70.0%		63.1	364^th of 1005 public elementary schools	63.8%	60	45.5	48.8	50.5		48.4	48.9	70.7	46.2		54.4	56.1		56.1	49.0	$9,898	$539	$9,359
McKenney-Harrison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 South Indiana Ave	Auburn	46706	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Ctl United School District	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 920-1015	620	33	18.5	57.1%	556 (89.7%)	2 (0.3%)	35 (5.6%)	9 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	14 (2.3%)	60	393^rd of 1015 public elementary schools	61.3%		61.3	379^th of 1005 public elementary schools	62.3%	14	20.7	52.9	42.9		39.6	35.6	57.8	57.1		50.6	46.1		46.1	61.9	$9,459	$716	$8,743
Country Meadow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2410 Cr 10	Ashley	46705	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Ctl United School District	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 920-1017	314	19	16.5	48.1%	287 (91.4%)	3 (1.0%)	14 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.2%)	46.7	555^th of 1015 public elementary schools	45.3%		37.4	647^th of 1005 public elementary schools	35.6%	92	27.8	46.4	31.0		36.6	41.7	57.1	35.7		46.3	37.5		37.5	35.7	$11,993	$1,067	$10,926
Butler Elementary School	Public	K-6	1025 S Broadway	Butler	46721	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Eastern Com School District	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 868-2123	366	27	13.6	68.3%	332 (90.7%)	4 (1.1%)	22 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	19.5	828^th of 1015 public elementary schools	18.4%		15.7	853^rd of 1005 public elementary schools	15.1%	25	24.6	20.9	13.0	18.2	19.8	41.5	29.9	6.5	13.6	25.2	23.9	29.6	26.1	23.9	$12,980	$582	$12,398
J E Ober Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	801 E Houston St	Garrett	46738	DeKalb County	Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 357-3112	704	51	13.9	59.5%	634 (90.1%)	2 (0.3%)	33 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	30 (4.3%)	30.8	712^th of 1015 public elementary schools	29.9%		26.8	758^th of 1005 public elementary schools	24.6%	46	28.4	37.0	17.1		27.4	43.0	34.5	20.3		32.7	40.3		40.3	30.1	$10,443	$1,241	$9,202
Hamilton Community Elementary School	Public	K-5	903 S Wayne St	Hamilton	46742	Steuben County	Hamilton Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 488-2161	192	17	11.6	49.0%	185 (96.4%)	1 (0.5%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.6%)	59.3	403^rd of 1015 public elementary schools	60.3%		64.2	348^th of 1005 public elementary schools	65.4%	55	29.2	37.5	50.0		37.9	50.0	67.5	33.3		50.8	60.0		60.0	52.8	$18,660	$979	$17,681
Riverdale Elementary School	Public	K-6	6127 Sr 1	Saint Joe	46785	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Eastern Com School District	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 337-5464	300	17	17.8	41.7%	277 (92.3%)	2 (0.7%)	12 (4.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	73.6	251^st of 1015 public elementary schools	75.3%		71.6	270^th of 1005 public elementary schools	73.1%	19	42.9	50.0	47.7	42.2	45.3	38.1	66.7	68.2	48.9	54.7	56.7	60.0	58.7	77.3	$10,838	$594	$10,244
Pleasant Lake Montessori School	Public	K-6	1205 W Main St	Pleasant Lake	46779	Steuben County	MSD Steuben County	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 475-5055	99	8	12.9	72.7%	92 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)	24.5	782^nd of 1015 public elementary schools	23.0%		26.9	757^th of 1005 public elementary schools	24.7%	25	41.7	6.3	46.2		28.3	16.7	6.3	15.4		10.9	25.0		23.8	38.5	$13,659	$600	$13,060
Wayne Center Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1231 E Appleman Rd	Kendallville	46755	Noble County	East Noble School Corporation	No	No	No	No	(260) 347-2548	346	22	15.7	34.4%	308 (89.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (9.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	63.7	359^th of 1015 public elementary schools	64.6%		71.1	274^th of 1005 public elementary schools	72.7%	85	40.0	50.0	45.3		45.1	50.0	52.5	53.1		52.1	40.0		40.0	54.7	$12,714	$557	$12,156

Frequently Asked Questions about Waterloo Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Waterloo Elementary School?

Students at Waterloo Elementary School are 91% White, 4% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

What district is Waterloo Elementary School in?

DeKalb County Ctl United School District

Is Waterloo Elementary School a good school?

Waterloo Elementary School ranks 719^th of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Waterloo Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 247 students attended Waterloo Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Waterloo Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Waterloo Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : DeKalb Middle School
High : DeKalb High School

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2025–26 ILEARN & SAT test scoresSep 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.