- Enrollment
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waterloo, IL
W J Zahnow Elem School
Federal NCES profile for W J Zahnow Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 174107004879
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W J Zahnow Elem School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Illinois schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #1 of 5
- public schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 487
- students enrolled
W J Zahnow Elem School has class sizes larger than 71% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W J Zahnow Elem School ranks #1 of 5 public schools in Waterloo, IL.
School address
District: Waterloo Cusd 5 · Illinois
NCES ID 174107004879 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
W J Zahnow Elem School held near 473 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.7 → 33.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 174107004879 · Waterloo, IL Other · SMALL · TRAD
487 enr · 15.2:1 · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Waterloo High School (876 students)
W J Zahnow Elem School held near 473 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.7 → 33.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
W J Zahnow Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Waterloo High
Waterloo High School
876 students
- Waterloo Junio
Waterloo Junior High School
613 students
- This school
W J Zahnow Elem School
487 students
- Rogers Elem Sc
Rogers Elem School
417 students
- Gardner Elemen
Gardner Elementary School
374 students
What this shows W J Zahnow Elem School reports 487 students on the CCD universe file.
How W J Zahnow Elem School compares
W J Zahnow Elem School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▲ 9% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 487 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
487
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 71% in Illinois - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.7%
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
$12,591
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $18,196
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. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 92.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
Two or More 2.9%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 92.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 13.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 13.7, W J Zahnow Elem School is less mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
District finance for Waterloo Cusd 5 reports $12,591 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How W J Zahnow Elem 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rogers Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gardner Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W J Zahnow Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 417
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 374
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
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 (~487 students)
Frequently asked questions about W J Zahnow Elem School
How many students attend W J Zahnow Elem School?
W J Zahnow Elem School has 487 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waterloo, IL. CCD year-over-year: 488 (2022-23) → 473 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at W J Zahnow Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at W J Zahnow Elem School is 15.2:1, which is 9% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W J Zahnow Elem School?
The largest demographic group at W J Zahnow Elem School is White at 92.8% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W J Zahnow Elem School?
W J Zahnow Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 W J Zahnow Elem School rank among public schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, W J Zahnow Elem School ranks #1 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.
What other schools are in Waterloo Cusd 5?
Besides W J Zahnow Elem School, Waterloo Cusd 5 also operates Waterloo High School (876 students), Waterloo Junior High School (613 students), and Rogers Elem School (417 students). See the Waterloo Cusd 5 district page for the complete list.