Enrollment
455
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Waterloo, IA
George Washington Carver Academy
Federal NCES profile for George Washington Carver Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 193048001725
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
George Washington Carver Academy earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 78.7%
- free-lunch eligible
George Washington Carver Academy has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, George Washington Carver Academy ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Waterloo, IA.
School address
District: Waterloo Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193048001725 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.7%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+116% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How George Washington Carver Academy compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at George Washington Carver Academy
George Washington Carver Academy is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Waterloo, Iowa, enrolling 455 students.
At 13.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Iowa median, within a few percentage points of the 14.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 78.7% of students qualify for free meals, 116% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 455 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 66 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #18.
Its student body is led by African American (48%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 228 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 55.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 20.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 258 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 455 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Waterloo's middle schools, it stands alongside Hoover Middle School (848 students): George Washington Carver Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.4:1 vs 15.1:1).
Waterloo Comm School District also operates West High School (1,696 students) and East High School (1,016 students) alongside George Washington Carver Academy.
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 George Washington Carver Academy compares
George Washington Carver Academy on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 9% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.7% | ▲ 116% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 455 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
455
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 116% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 42% in Iowa - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
55.4%
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
$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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 228 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
26
in-school suspensions + 232 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 56.7 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
African American 47.5%
Hispanic or Latino 20.0%
White 11.9%
Two or More 11.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 8.8%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 47.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.9, George Washington Carver Academy 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 George Washington Carver Academy.
$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 George Washington Carver Academy 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kittrell Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Expo Alternative Learning Center | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to George Washington Carver Academy'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
- 561
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar middle schools in Waterloo
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~455 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on George Washington Carver Academy's federal record.
- Compare George Washington Carver Academy 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 George Washington Carver Academy
How many students attend George Washington Carver Academy?
George Washington Carver Academy has 455 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Waterloo, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at George Washington Carver Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at George Washington Carver Academy is 13.4:1, which is 9% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 15% 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 George Washington Carver Academy?
78.7% of students at George Washington Carver Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of George Washington Carver Academy?
The largest demographic group at George Washington Carver Academy is African American at 47.5% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for George Washington Carver Academy?
George Washington Carver Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does George Washington Carver Academy rank among middle schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, George Washington Carver Academy ranks #2 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in Waterloo on the city page.
Is George Washington Carver Academy a good school?
George Washington Carver Academy earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools. 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 George Washington Carver Academy, 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.