Enrollment
561
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waterloo, IA
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Federal NCES profile for Expo Alternative Learning Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193048002126
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Expo Alternative Learning Center earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #2 of 8
- schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 73.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Expo Alternative Learning Center has class sizes larger than 84% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Expo Alternative Learning Center ranks #2 of 8 schools in Waterloo, IA.
School address
District: Waterloo Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193048002126 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
73.6%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+102% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Expo Alternative Learning Center compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Expo Alternative Learning Center
Expo Alternative Learning Center is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Waterloo, Iowa, enrolling 561 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 73.6% of students qualify for free meals, 102% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 561 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Among 66 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Iowa schools statewide, it ranks #4, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (42%) and African American (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 187 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Its district draws 20.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Waterloo's public schools, it stands alongside Kittrell Elementary School (576 students): Expo Alternative Learning Center is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17:1 vs 12.3:1).
Waterloo Comm School District also operates West High School (1,696 students) and East High School (1,016 students) alongside Expo Alternative Learning Center.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Expo Alternative Learning Center compares
Expo Alternative Learning Center on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17:1 | ▲ 15% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.6% | ▲ 102% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 561 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
561
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
73.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 102% 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
17:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 84% in Iowa - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$13,803
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $12,854
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 187 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 68 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 41.7%
African American 34.8%
Two or More 12.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.3%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 41.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.2, Expo Alternative Learning Center is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterloo Comm School District, which includes Expo Alternative Learning Center.
$13,803
Per student
+7%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 23.0%
State 56.9%
Federal 20.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Expo Alternative Learning Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hoover Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kittrell Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lowell Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Expo Alternative Learning Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,696
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- 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
- 538
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
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
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
Highland Elementary School
Standard public school
448 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~561 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Expo Alternative Learning Center's federal record.
- Compare Expo Alternative Learning Center against another school. Compare schools
- Waterloo Comm School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Expo Alternative Learning Center
How many students attend Expo Alternative Learning Center?
Expo Alternative Learning Center has 561 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Waterloo, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Expo Alternative Learning Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Expo Alternative Learning Center is 17:1, which is 15% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Expo Alternative Learning Center?
73.6% of students at Expo Alternative Learning Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Expo Alternative Learning Center?
The largest demographic group at Expo Alternative Learning Center is White at 41.7% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Expo Alternative Learning Center?
Expo Alternative Learning Center has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Expo Alternative Learning Center rank among schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, Expo Alternative Learning Center ranks #2 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.
Is Expo Alternative Learning Center a good school?
Expo Alternative Learning Center earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Waterloo Comm School District?
Besides Expo Alternative Learning Center, 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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.