Enrollment
374
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Waterloo, IL
Gardner Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Gardner Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 174107006144
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gardner Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Illinois schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #3 of 5
- public schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 374
- students enrolled
Gardner Elementary School has class sizes larger than 81% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gardner Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Waterloo, IL.
School address
District: Waterloo Cusd 5 · Illinois
NCES ID 174107006144 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+14% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gardner Elementary School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gardner Elementary School
Gardner Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Waterloo, Illinois, enrolling 374 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
With 374 students, its enrollment sits close to the Illinois median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is predominantly White (94% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 12/100).
11.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Waterloo Cusd 5 spends $12,458 per pupil, 27% below the Illinois average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Waterloo's elementary schools, it stands alongside Rogers Elem School (417 students): Gardner Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16:1 vs 14.7:1).
Waterloo Cusd 5 also operates Waterloo High School (876 students) and Waterloo Junior High School (613 students) alongside Gardner Elementary School.
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 Gardner Elementary School compares
Gardner Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 14% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 374 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
374
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 81% in Illinois - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,458
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 374 Top 50% in Illinois - larger than 50% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 25.0
Students per teacher 16:1 +14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 174107006144
Student demographics
White 93.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
Two or More 2.4%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 93.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.2, Gardner Elementary School is less mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 11.2%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterloo Cusd 5, which includes Gardner Elementary School.
$12,458
Per student
-27%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 61.7%
State 30.8%
Federal 7.5%
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 Gardner Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Waterloo Junior High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| W J Zahnow Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rogers Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gardner Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 417
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar elementary schools in Waterloo
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gardner Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Gardner Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Waterloo Cusd 5'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 Gardner Elementary School
How many students attend Gardner Elementary School?
Gardner Elementary School has 374 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Waterloo, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gardner Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gardner Elementary School is 16:1, which is 14% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gardner Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Gardner Elementary School is White at 93.6% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gardner Elementary School?
Gardner Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Gardner Elementary School rank among public schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, Gardner Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Waterloo, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Waterloo on the city page.
Is Gardner Elementary School a good school?
Gardner Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Illinois schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 Cusd 5?
Besides Gardner Elementary School, Waterloo Cusd 5 also operates Waterloo High School (876 students), Waterloo Junior High School (613 students), and W J Zahnow Elem School (487 students). See the Waterloo Cusd 5 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.