- Enrollment
- 1,696
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waterloo, IA
Cunningham School
Federal NCES profile for Cunningham School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193048001719
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cunningham School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #7 of 8
- schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 81.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Cunningham School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cunningham School ranks #7 of 8 schools in Waterloo, IA.
School address
District: Waterloo Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193048001719 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Cunningham School grew from 376 students in 2022-23 to 401 in 2023-24 (+6.6%).
Teacher FTE added 32.2 → 33.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+25 students YoY 193048001719 · Waterloo, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
443 enr · 13.8:1 · 81.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: West High School (1,696 students)
Cunningham School grew from 376 students in 2022-23 to 401 in 2023-24 (+6.6%). Teacher FTE added 32.2 → 33.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Cunningham School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High Scho
West High School
1,696 students
- East High Scho
East High School
1,016 students
- Hoover Middle
Hoover Middle School
848 students
- Kittrell Eleme 576
Kittrell Elementary School
576 students
- Expo Alternati 561
Expo Alternative Learning Center
561 students
- This school 443
Cunningham School
443 students
What this shows Cunningham School reports 443 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cunningham School compares
Cunningham School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.6% | ▲ 124% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 443 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
443
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
81.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 124% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 47% in Iowa - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,490
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 443 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
26
in-school suspensions + 66 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 58.2%
Two or More 13.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 8.8%
White 7.2%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 58.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.7, Cunningham School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Waterloo Comm School District reports $14,490 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cunningham School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kittrell Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Expo Alternative Learning Center | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cunningham School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 848
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 576
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 561
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in Waterloo
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Kittrell Elementary School
Standard public school
576 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative education program
561 students 17:1 students per teacher
Lowell Elementary School
Standard public school
538 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Orange Elementary School
Standard public school
518 students 14:1 students per teacher
Fred Becker Elementary School
Standard public school
501 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Elementary School
Standard public school
463 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~443 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cunningham School
How many students attend Cunningham School?
Cunningham School has 443 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waterloo, IA. CCD year-over-year: 376 (2022-23) → 401 (2023-24), up 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cunningham School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cunningham School is 13.8:1, which is 7% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 12% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cunningham School?
81.6% of students at Cunningham School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cunningham School?
The largest demographic group at Cunningham School is African American at 58.2% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cunningham School?
Cunningham School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cunningham School rank among schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, Cunningham School ranks #7 of 8 schools in Waterloo, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waterloo on the city page.
What other schools are in Waterloo Comm School District?
Besides Cunningham School, Waterloo Comm School District also operates West High School (1,696 students), East High School (1,016 students), and Hoover Middle School (848 students). See the Waterloo Comm School District district page for the complete list.