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Waterloo Elementary

Q: Is Waterloo Elementary a good school?

Waterloo Elementary ranks 214 th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

214^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 640 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Waterloo Elementary is a public elementary school serving 257 students in grades PK-5 in Waterloo, South Carolina, which is part of the Laurens 55 school district. Despite the district's 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, Waterloo Elementary stands out as a high-performing school, with significantly higher proficiency rates in ELA and Math compared to the district and state averages.

In 2024-2025, 88.6% of 3rd graders at Waterloo Elementary were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 50.2% for Laurens 55 and 61.8% for the state of South Carolina. Similarly, 88.6% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in Math, compared to 42.6% for Laurens 55 and 56.3% for the state. This strong academic performance is particularly impressive given that 100% of Waterloo Elementary's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty student population. However, the school's high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 22.5% to 30.5%, are a concern that may be impacting student learning.

Compared to nearby schools in the higher-performing Greenwood 50 district, such as Merrywood Elementary and Pinecrest Elementary, Waterloo Elementary's academic performance is still strong but not as dominant. These Greenwood 50 schools outperform Waterloo Elementary on many metrics. Nevertheless, Waterloo Elementary's low student-teacher ratio of 9.8 and high per-student spending of $15,625 in 2023-2024 suggest that the school is well-resourced, which likely contributes to its impressive academic outcomes.

254

Students ?

8.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,444

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10457 Highway 221 South
Waterloo, SC 29384

(864) 677-5610

District: Laurens 55

Students who attend Waterloo Elementary usually attend:

High:

Laurens District 55 High

Racial breakdown:

White:

73.2%

African American:

15.4%

Two or more races:

6.7%

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Compare Waterloo Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 69th percentile in 2015 → 67th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (65% vs 56% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Laurens 55

✓Above the South Carolina median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school65%

District avg41%

South Carolina avg56%

214^th of 640

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 6Elementary Schools in the Laurens 55

61^st of 75Laurens 55 among South Carolina 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	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	66.5	214 of 640	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.8	253 of 638	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.7	349 of 644	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.6	488 of 625	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.0	512 of 622	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.9	426 of 643	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.9	313 of 624	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	49.8	316 of 639	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.9	155 of 619	75.0%	★★★★☆
2015	62.8	197 of 638	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	79.7	94 of 630	85.1%	★★★★☆
2013	84.0	57 of 599	90.5%	★★★★★
2012	79.0	94 of 594	84.2%	★★★★☆
2011	74.7	127 of 597	78.7%	★★★★☆
2010	67.0	184 of 589	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.8	163 of 580	71.9%	★★★★☆
2008	34.3	428 of 577	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.4	376 of 566	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	49.2	317 of 559	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	68.1	177 of 557	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	67.3	175 of 550	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2003	55.0	270 of 542	50.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	53.9	278 of 588	52.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	68.4	164 of 613	73.2%	★★★★☆
2024	77.0	110 of 599	81.6%	★★★★☆
2023	60.4	223 of 608	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	23.1	480 of 600	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.1	472 of 580	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.4	416 of 600	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.9	274 of 588	53.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	26.3	439 of 582	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	7.7	536 of 561	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	33.4	407 of 590	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.2	375 of 571	34.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	254 of 460	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.7	290 of 441	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.3	391 of 463	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	2.5	450 of 455	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	2.8	437 of 439	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.9	441 of 472	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	27.6	344 of 457	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)73rd percentile+7 vs school

Female (2019)53rd percentile+19 vs school

White (2025)45th percentile-22 vs school

Male (2023)25th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts73%+11 vs state

Mathematics63%+11 vs state

Science45%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Waterloo Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SC READY English Language Arts (2025)			SC READY Mathematics (2025)			SC READY Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Science 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Waterloo Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10457 Highway 221 South	Waterloo	29384	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 677-5610	254	30	8.5		186 (73.2%)	39 (15.4%)	10 (3.9%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	66.5	214^th of 640 public elementary schools	66.6%		59.8	253^rd of 638 public elementary schools	60.3%	39	88.6	80.6	41.7	88.6	67.8	20.8	45.2	$17,444	$1,448	$595	$2,043	$12,332	$3,069	$15,401
E. B. Morse Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Parkview Drive	Laurens	29360	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 984-7777	447	37	12.0		164 (36.7%)	240 (53.7%)	28 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	24.1	497^th of 640 public elementary schools	22.3%		16.9	542^nd of 638 public elementary schools	15.0%	45	52.8	44.1	52.9	44.4	33.9	35.8	20.4	$15,009	$1,351	$459	$1,810	$10,385	$2,814	$13,199
Laurens Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Henry Street	Laurens	29360	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 984-3067	465	45	10.3		212 (45.6%)	183 (39.4%)	53 (11.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.2%)	17.1	548^th of 640 public elementary schools	14.4%		29.7	447^th of 638 public elementary schools	29.9%	101	49.4	45.3	44.8	36.7	26.6	24.1	29.7	$15,289	$1,603	$453	$2,056	$10,543	$2,690	$13,233
Ware Shoals Primary	Public	PK, KG-4	15269 Indian Mound Road	Ware Shoals	29692	Laurens County	Greenwood 51	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 861-2261	385	29	13.2		276 (71.7%)	54 (14.0%)	22 (5.7%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.5%)	33.8	429^th of 640 public elementary schools	33.0%		38.7	389^th of 638 public elementary schools	39.0%	40	60.3	60.5		47.6	36.8		26.4
Ford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	601 Lucas Avenue	Laurens	29360	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 984-3986	423	42	10.0		121 (28.6%)	93 (22.0%)	186 (44.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.4%)	8.5	613^th of 640 public elementary schools	4.2%		9.8	604^th of 638 public elementary schools	5.3%	9	29.9	29.5	41.5	28.4	34.1	18.9	22.7	$15,791	$1,436	$456	$1,893	$11,084	$2,813	$13,898
Clinton Elementary	Public	K-5	800 Chestnut Street	Clinton	29325	Laurens County	Laurens 56	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 833-0812	422	29	14.5		144 (34.1%)	203 (48.1%)	36 (8.5%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.8%)	22.9	506^th of 640 public elementary schools	20.9%		50.8	307^th of 638 public elementary schools	51.9%	199	42.4	55.2	46.0	24.6	40.3	24.0	43.3	$14,827	$1,825	$1,639	$3,464	$9,867	$1,497	$11,363
Eleanor S. Rice Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1802 East Durst Avenue	Greenwood	29649	Greenwood County	Greenwood 50	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 941-5660	535	41	12.9		165 (30.8%)	304 (56.8%)	34 (6.4%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	25 (4.7%)	59.4	257^th of 640 public elementary schools	59.8%		51.3	301^st of 638 public elementary schools	52.8%	44	73.0	62.7	67.1	67.0	43.9	54.4	39.0	$17,049	$2,913	$765	$3,679	$12,016	$1,354	$13,370
Woodfields Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1032 Emerald Road	Greenwood	29646	Greenwood County	Greenwood 50	No	Yes	No	Yes	(864) 941-5540	521	45	11.5		113 (21.7%)	241 (46.3%)	141 (27.1%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	19 (3.6%)	66.5	213^th of 640 public elementary schools	66.7%		65.5	213^th of 638 public elementary schools	66.6%		58.0	74.7	65.2	56.8	57.7	60.9	63.4	$18,849	$3,355	$1,007	$4,362	$12,966	$1,521	$14,487
Merrywood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	329 Deadfall Road West	Greenwood	29649	Greenwood County	Greenwood 50	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 941-5700	562	46	12.3		265 (47.2%)	185 (32.9%)	82 (14.6%)	5 (0.9%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.9%)	79.1	126^th of 640 public elementary schools	80.3%		81.1	112^th of 638 public elementary schools	82.4%	14	77.0	69.3	76.1	72.6	69.3	77.3	46.5	$16,801	$4,212	$773	$4,985	$10,490	$1,326	$11,816
Pinecrest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	220 East Northside Drive	Greenwood	29649	Greenwood County	Greenwood 50	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 941-5580	379	40	9.4		70 (18.5%)	184 (48.5%)	107 (28.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	14 (3.7%)	78.1	132^nd of 640 public elementary schools	79.4%		79.1	128^th of 638 public elementary schools	79.9%	4	56.1	75.7	67.8	78.8	74.3	76.7	62.1	$18,423	$3,509	$959	$4,468	$12,517	$1,438	$13,955

Frequently Asked Questions about Waterloo Elementary

What schools do graduates of Waterloo Elementary attend?

Students who attend Waterloo Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Laurens District 55 High

What district is Waterloo Elementary in?

Laurens 55

Is Waterloo Elementary a good school?

Waterloo Elementary ranks 214^th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Waterloo Elementary?

Students at Waterloo Elementary are 73% White, 15% African American, 7% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

How many students attend Waterloo Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 254 students attended Waterloo Elementary.

Rate Waterloo Elementary!

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