- Enrollment
- 1,696
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waterloo, IA
Lowell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Lowell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193048001731
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lowell Elementary School earns 57/100 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 8
- schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.8:1
- students per teacher
- 62.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Lowell Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary School ranks #1 of 8 schools in Waterloo, IA.
School address
District: Waterloo Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193048001731 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Lowell Elementary School shrank from 513 students in 2022-23 to 480 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 42.3 → 39.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 193048001731 · Waterloo, IA Other · MID · TRAD
538 enr · 12.8:1 · 62.6% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: West High School (1,696 students)
Lowell Elementary School shrank from 513 students in 2022-23 to 480 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE lost 42.3 → 39.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Lowell 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 538
Lowell Elementary School
538 students
What this shows Lowell Elementary School reports 538 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lowell Elementary School compares
Lowell Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.8:1 | ▼ 14% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.6% | ▲ 72% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 538 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
538
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% 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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 33% in Iowa - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.6%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
25
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 27.0%
African American 27.0%
Hispanic or Latino 23.8%
Two or More 11.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 5.8%
Asian 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 27.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.8, Lowell 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 Lowell Elementary School 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kittrell Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Expo Alternative Learning Center | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lowell 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 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
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative education program
561 students 17:1 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
Nationwide other 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 (~538 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lowell Elementary School
How many students attend Lowell Elementary School?
Lowell Elementary School has 538 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waterloo, IA. CCD year-over-year: 513 (2022-23) → 480 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School is 12.8:1, which is 14% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 18% 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 Lowell Elementary School?
62.6% of students at Lowell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lowell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Lowell Elementary School is African American at 27.0% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lowell Elementary School?
Lowell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lowell Elementary School rank among schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary School ranks #1 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.
What other schools are in Waterloo Comm School District?
Besides Lowell 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.