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Public School Review - Established 2003

Waterloo CUSD 5 School District

302 Bellefontaine Dr
Waterloo, IL 62298-1790
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Tel: (618) 939-3453
www.wcusd5.net

Top Rankings

Waterloo CUSD 5 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 1,891 students in Waterloo CUSD 5 School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public elementary schools in Illinois.
Public Elementary Schools in Waterloo CUSD 5 School District have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public elementary school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
5 Schools
3,120 Schools
# Students
2,767 Students
1,192,824 Students
# Teachers
169 Teachers
91,472 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
Pre-K10158
Kind170120
1216131
2186134
3231140
4208138
5166138
6220138
7196118
8197120
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District Rank

Waterloo CUSD 5 School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 861 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 93% has increased from 89% over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (IL)
#91 out of 865 school districts
(Top 20%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School District
2023#91
2022#115
2021#147
2019#62
2018#55
2017#63
2016#85
2015#53
2014#112
2013#126
2012#196
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48%
27%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202348%27%
202138%28%
201956%33%
201858%32%
201754%32%
201653%31%
201550%29%
201477%59%
201374%58%
201290%80%
201189%80%
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47%
30%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202247%30%
202146%32%
201961%38%
201858%37%
201763%38%
201654%36%
201564%38%
201472%57%
201374%58%
201286%75%
201186%75%
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71%
50%
93%
87%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202393%87%
202291%87%
201892%87%
201793%87%
201694%85%
201589%85%
201490%86%
201391%83%
201294%82%
201187%83%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.13
0.70

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20240.110.70
20230.110.70
20220.100.68
20210.100.68
20200.090.68
20190.090.68
20180.080.67
20170.080.67
20160.080.67
20150.070.67
20140.080.66
20130.090.66
20120.040.65
20110.060.66
20100.050.64
20090.060.64
20080.060.64
20070.050.63
20060.040.61
20050.020.61
20040.020.60
20030.030.59
20020.010.59
20010.020.58
20000.010.57
19990.010.56
19980.020.56
19970.010.54
19960.010.53
19950.010.53
19940.010.52
19930.010.52
19920.030.52
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% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2014)

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20141%5%
20131%5%
20121%4%
20112%5%
20102%5%
20091%5%
20082%5%
20071%5%
20061%5%
20051%5%
20032%4%
20021%4%
20011%4%
20001%3%
19991%3%
19981%3%
19971%3%
19961%3%
19931%3%
19921%3%
19911%3%
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% Hispanic
3%
28%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2006-2024)

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20244%28%
20233%27%
20222%27%
20212%27%
20202%26%
20192%26%
20182%26%
20172%26%
20162%26%
20152%25%
20141%25%
20132%24%
20121%24%
20111%23%
20101%22%
20091%22%
20081%21%
20071%20%
20061%19%
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% Black
n/a
17%
% White
93%
44%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202494%45%
202394%45%
202295%47%
202195%47%
202095%48%
201995%48%
201896%49%
201796%49%
201696%49%
201596%49%
201496%50%
201396%50%
201298%51%
201197%51%
201097%53%
200997%53%
200897%54%
200798%55%
200698%56%
200598%57%
2004100%57%
200398%58%
200299%59%
200199%60%
200099%61%
199999%62%
199899%63%
199799%64%
199699%64%
1995100%65%
1994100%65%
199399%65%
199299%66%
199199%66%
199099%66%
198999%66%
1988100%67%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2014-2024)

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20242%4%
20233%4%
20223%4%
20213%4%
20203%4%
20193%4%
20182%3%
20172%3%
20162%3%
20152%3%
20142%3%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,931 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,455. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,493 is less than the state median of $21,692. The school district spending/student has declined by 5% over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$41 MM
$41,381 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$41 MM$15 MM
2022$41 MM$14 MM
2021$41 MM$15 MM
2020$41 MM$14 MM
2019$38 MM$14 MM
2018$37 MM$15 MM
2017$35 MM$13 MM
2016$31 MM$12 MM
2015$28 MM$10 MM
2014$43 MM$12 MM
2012$27 MM$11 MM
2011$28 MM$11 MM
2010$28 MM$10 MM
2009$27 MM$10 MM
2008$27 MM$9 MM
2007$24 MM$9 MM
2006$20 MM$8 MM
2005$19 MM$8 MM
2004$18 MM$8 MM
2003$17 MM$7 MM
2002$16 MM$8 MM
2001$15 MM$7 MM
2000$17 MM$7 MM
1999$15 MM$7 MM
1998$12 MM$6 MM
1997$11 MM$5 MM
1996$11 MM$5 MM
1995$10 MM$5 MM
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Spending
$37 MM
$39,976 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$37 MM$14 MM
2022$39 MM$14 MM
2021$37 MM$14 MM
2020$39 MM$14 MM
2019$35 MM$13 MM
2018$34 MM$14 MM
2017$36 MM$12 MM
2016$31 MM$12 MM
2015$33 MM$11 MM
2014$29 MM$12 MM
2012$27 MM$11 MM
2011$28 MM$11 MM
2010$33 MM$11 MM
2009$42 MM$10 MM
2008$40 MM$9 MM
2007$25 MM$9 MM
2006$21 MM$8 MM
2005$19 MM$8 MM
2004$21 MM$8 MM
2003$19 MM$8 MM
2002$17 MM$8 MM
2001$15 MM$7 MM
2000$18 MM$7 MM
1999$17 MM$6 MM
1998$12 MM$6 MM
1997$10 MM$5 MM
1996$10 MM$5 MM
1995$9 MM$5 MM
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Revenue / Student
$14,931
$22,455

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$14,925$17,333
2022$14,966$19,707
2021$15,375$17,764
2020$14,966$19,707
2019$14,245$17,662
2018$14,138$19,255
2017$13,090$17,801
2016$11,560$14,596
2015$10,316$11,118
2014$15,905$13,203
2012$10,000$11,701
2011$10,232$11,859
2010$10,012$11,118
2009$9,781$10,546
2008$9,640$11,298
2007$8,689$10,143
2006$7,254$9,054
2005$7,406$9,158
2004$7,015$8,999
2003$6,696$8,614
2002$6,320$8,976
2001$6,297$8,649
2000$7,159$8,451
1999$6,290$7,697
1998$4,456$5,971
1997$4,228$5,662
1995$4,202$5,677
1992$3,371$4,514
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Spending / Student
$13,493
$21,692

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearWaterloo CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$13,488$16,251
2022$14,253$19,097
2021$13,895$16,655
2020$14,253$19,097
2019$13,006$17,005
2018$13,138$18,215
2017$13,552$17,235
2016$11,478$14,516
2015$12,222$11,218
2014$10,578$12,904
2012$9,919$11,755
2011$10,057$11,220
2010$11,862$11,218
2009$15,002$10,416
2008$14,641$10,971
2007$9,336$9,827
2006$7,663$8,997
2005$7,322$9,234
2004$7,985$9,089
2003$7,454$9,395
2002$6,665$9,305
2001$6,252$8,562
2000$7,526$8,142
1999$7,211$7,325
1998$4,242$5,848
1997$3,879$5,503
1995$3,820$5,507
1992$3,364$4,672
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Best Waterloo CUSD 5 School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Rogers Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
200 Rogers St
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618) 939-3454
Gr: 2-3 | 417 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Waterloo Junior High School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
200 Bellefontaine Dr
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618) 939-3457
Gr: 6-8 | 613 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #33.
Gardner Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1 Ed Gardner Pl
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618) 939-3060
Gr: 4-5 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: n/an/a
W J Zahnow Elementary School
301 Hamacher St
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618) 939-3458
Gr: PK-1 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 7%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,767 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 7%
  • : 93% (Top 10% in IL)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 48% (Top 10%)
  • : 47% (Top 20%)
  • : 71% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

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