- Enrollment
- 1,696
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Lou Henry Elementary School held near 456 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 35.6 → 34.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 193048001165 · Waterloo, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
460 enr · 13.1:1 · 47.5% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: West High School (1,696 students)
Lou Henry Elementary School held near 456 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 35.6 → 34.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Lou Henry Elementary 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 460
Lou Henry Elementary School
460 students
What this shows Lou Henry Elementary School reports 460 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lou Henry Elementary School compares
Lou Henry Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.1:1 | ▼ 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 methodology
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
$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 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.
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
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 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
- 1,016
- 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.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~460 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 465 (2022-23) → 456 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.