Enrollment
487
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
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 74% of Illinois schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #2 of 5
- public schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.3:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 487
- students enrolled
W J Zahnow Elem School has class sizes larger than 74% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W J Zahnow Elem School ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Waterloo, IL.
School address
District: Waterloo Cusd 5 · Illinois
NCES ID 174107004879 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.3:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+9% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How W J Zahnow Elem School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at W J Zahnow Elem School
W J Zahnow Elem School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Waterloo, Illinois, enrolling 487 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
Enrollment of 487 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is predominantly White (93% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 14/100).
11.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Waterloo Cusd 5 spends $12,458 per pupil, 27% below the Illinois average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Waterloo Cusd 5 also operates Waterloo High School (876 students) and Waterloo Junior High School (613 students) alongside W J Zahnow Elem 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 W J Zahnow Elem School compares
W J Zahnow Elem School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.3:1 | ▲ 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
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 46% 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 (what these measure)
Staffing depth
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 74% in Illinois - lower ratio than 26% 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
$12,458
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
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.
Overview
Enrollment 487 Top 32% in Illinois - larger than 68% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 32.0
Students per teacher 15.3:1 +9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 174107004879
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 & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 11.7%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Expulsions 1
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterloo Cusd 5, which includes W J Zahnow Elem School.
$12,458
Per student
-27%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 61.7%
State 30.8%
Federal 7.5%
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 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 | Similar 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
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 417
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 374
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on W J Zahnow Elem School's federal record.
- Compare W J Zahnow Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- Waterloo Cusd 5'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 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.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W J Zahnow Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at W J Zahnow Elem School is 15.3:1, 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, attendance rates. 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 #2 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.
Is W J Zahnow Elem School a good school?
W J Zahnow Elem School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Illinois schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 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.
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.