Enrollment
460
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Waterloo, IA
Lou Henry Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Lou Henry 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 193048001165
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lou Henry Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- students per teacher
- 47.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Lou Henry Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lou Henry Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Waterloo, IA.
School address
District: Waterloo Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193048001165 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.1:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.5%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Lou Henry Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Lou Henry Elementary School
Lou Henry Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Waterloo, Iowa, enrolling 460 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 47.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 460 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 277 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #97.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and African American (38%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 460 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
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 elementary schools, it stands alongside Irving Elementary School (353 students): Lou Henry Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.1:1 vs 11.4:1).
Waterloo Comm School District also operates West High School (1,696 students) and East High School (1,016 students) alongside Lou Henry 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 Lou Henry Elementary School compares
Lou Henry Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.1:1 | ▼ 11% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.5% | ▲ 30% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 460 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
460
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 37% in Iowa - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 460 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.3 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 38.7%
African American 38.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%
Asian 6.5%
Two or More 6.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 38.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.8, Lou Henry Elementary School 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 Lou Henry Elementary School.
$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 Lou Henry Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kittrell Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Expo Alternative Learning Center | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lou Henry Elementary School'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 elementary schools in Waterloo
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary 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 (~460 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Lou Henry Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Lou Henry Elementary School 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 Lou Henry Elementary School
How many students attend Lou Henry Elementary School?
Lou Henry Elementary School has 460 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Waterloo, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lou Henry Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lou Henry Elementary School is 13.1:1, which is 11% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 17% 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 Lou Henry Elementary School?
47.5% of students at Lou Henry Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lou Henry Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Lou Henry Elementary School is White at 38.7% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lou Henry Elementary School?
Lou Henry Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Lou Henry Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, Lou Henry Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary 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 elementary schools in Waterloo on the city page.
Is Lou Henry Elementary School a good school?
Lou Henry Elementary School earns 46/100 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 Lou Henry Elementary 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.
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.