Waterloo Cusd 5

Waterloo, Illinois - 5 schools

An equity score of 15/100 ranks Waterloo Cusd 5 #743 of 763 districts in Illinois (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,458 per pupil, Waterloo Cusd 5 ranks #748 of 848 Illinois districts by per-pupil spending (Illinois districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,768
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$12,458
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Waterloo Cusd 5 operates 5 public schools serving 2,768 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Illinois. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Monroe County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,458 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 848 Illinois districts by per-pupil spending. See how Illinois compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 61.7% local, 30.8% state, and 7.5% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 15/100, ranked #743 of 763 in Illinois against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 292:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 13.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.3% White, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Waterloo High School, with a diversity index of 13.7/100.

Its largest campus is Waterloo High School, enrolling 876 students (32% of the district's total enrollment).

Waterloo High School accounts for 31.6% of all Waterloo Cusd 5 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Waterloo Cusd 5-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Waterloo Cusd 5 school enrollment varies 2.3× across entities

Waterloo Cusd 5 school enrollment ranges from 374 students (lowest) to 876 students (highest), a spread of 502 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Waterloo Cusd 5 student-counselor ratio is 292:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Waterloo Cusd 5 is typically wider than the Waterloo Cusd 5-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Waterloo Cusd 5 chronic absenteeism rate is 13.3% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.5%
Federal
30.8%
State
61.7%
Local

Funding Equity

15
Equity Score
743 / 763
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Waterloo Cusd 5.

White 93.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.0%
Multiracial 2.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 12.7/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Waterloo Cusd 5's schools, below the Illinois average of 38.9.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Waterloo High School 13.7
  2. 2 W J Zahnow Elem School 13.7
  3. 3 Rogers Elem School 12.4
  4. 4 Gardner Elementary School 12.2
  5. 5 Waterloo Junior High School 11.5

Programs & Resources

292:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
13.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Waterloo Cusd 5

School Enrollment
Waterloo High School
876
Waterloo Junior High School
613
W J Zahnow Elem School
487
Rogers Elem School
417
Gardner Elementary School
374

How Waterloo Cusd 5 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Illinois districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Highland Cusd 5 Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Homewood Flossmoor Chsd 233 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Deerfield Sd 109 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Chicago Heights Sd 170 Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Woodridge Sd 68 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Waterloo Cusd 5's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Illinois

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

City of Chicago Sd 299
321,666 students · 644 schools · $21,050/pupil
Compare vs Waterloo Cusd 5 →
Sd U-46
35,082 students · 58 schools · $17,947/pupil
Compare vs Waterloo Cusd 5 →
Rockford Sd 205
27,442 students · 45 schools · $17,721/pupil
Compare vs Waterloo Cusd 5 →
Indian Prairie Cusd 204
25,687 students · 33 schools · $17,239/pupil
Compare vs Waterloo Cusd 5 →
Plainfield Sd 202
24,856 students · 31 schools · $15,235/pupil
Compare vs Waterloo Cusd 5 →

Compare Waterloo Cusd 5

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs City of Chicago Sd 299 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Waterloo Cusd 5?

Waterloo Cusd 5 has 5 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 1 combined, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,768 students.

How much does Waterloo Cusd 5 spend per student?

Waterloo Cusd 5 spends $12,458 per student. The district has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #743 in Illinois.

What is the demographic composition of Waterloo Cusd 5?

Waterloo Cusd 5 students are 93.3% White, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Waterloo Cusd 5?

Waterloo Cusd 5 has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #743 out of 763 districts in Illinois.