Best Public Schools in Zip Code 44201

ZIP code 44201, centered on Atwater, Ohio, is served by three schools — Waterloo Elementary School (K–6, 462 students), Waterloo Middle School (7–8, 131 students) and Waterloo High School (9–12, 203 students) — all part of the Waterloo Local district, for a total of 796 students. The district overall ranks 443 of 773 Ohio districts, in the 43rd percentile with 2 stars, but the individual schools diverge from that profile.

Waterloo High School is the standout: 297 of 795 high schools (63rd percentile, 3 stars), stable over three years, with a 96.9% graduation rate and proficiency above the state in five of six End-of-Course subjects — American History 82.5% vs 73.2%, Biology 78.7% vs 67.0%, English II 75.0% vs 62.7%, and Geometry 64.5% vs 43.3%. Algebra I (58.1% vs 61.6%) is the exception. It has the smallest classes (11.2 students per teacher) and the lowest free/reduced-lunch rate (47.78%), yet also the highest chronic absenteeism at 33%. Waterloo Middle School posted 100% Algebra I proficiency in both years, likely a small advanced cohort, and 64.5% in ELA 8 (state 58.3%), but Math 8 (30% vs 52%) and Science 8 (48.4% vs 61.2%) lag, and its rank fell from the 63rd to the 43rd percentile.

Waterloo Elementary School is the largest school and the most volatile: rank dropped from the 54th to the 37th percentile, with 3rd grade Math at 26.2% versus the state's 62.1% in 2025-26. It does have bright spots, including 6th grade Math at 61.7% (state 56.2%). It also serves the highest share of low-income students (65.15% free/reduced lunch) with the largest classes (24.3 students per teacher). Chronic absenteeism climbs with grade level — 18.7% elementary (below the district's 24.0%), 27.1% middle, and 33.0% high — so the earlier grades appear to be the bigger improvement challenge.