Waterloo CUSD 5 School District

302 Bellefontaine Dr
Waterloo, IL 62298-1790
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

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

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.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#91 out of 865 school districts
(Top 20%)
48%
27%
47%
30%
71%
50%
93%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.13
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
3%
28%
% Black
n/a
17%
% White
93%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
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.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$41 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$37 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,931
$22,455
Spending / Student
$13,493
$21,692

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
301 Hamacher St
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618) 939-3458
Gr: PK-1 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 7%

Recent Articles

When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
Discover the hidden costs of public school in 2026, from supplies and fees to transportation, technology, and extracurricular expenses.
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
Learn how district budget cuts can affect class sizes, programs, staffing, transportation, and your child's daily school experience in 2026.
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
Learn how parents can assess school closure risk before buying or renting in a district, using enrollment, funding, and boundary data.

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

Quick Links