- Enrollment
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Waterloo, IA
West High School
Federal NCES profile for West High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 193048001738
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West High School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #15 of 16
- public schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 48.4%
- free-lunch eligible
West High School has class sizes larger than 88% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West High School ranks #15 of 16 public schools in Waterloo, IA.
School address
District: Waterloo Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193048001738 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+61 students YoY
West High School held near 1,713 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+61 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 96.5 → 99.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+61 students YoY 193048001738 · Waterloo, IA High · MID · TRAD
1,696 enr · 17.7:1 · 48.4% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: East High School (1,016 students)
West High School held near 1,713 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+61 headcount). Teacher FTE added 96.5 → 99.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
West High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
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
- Lowell Element 538
Lowell Elementary School
538 students
What this shows West High School reports 1,696 students on the CCD universe file.
How West High School compares
West High 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 | 17.7:1 | ▲ 20% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.4% | ▲ 33% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,696 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,696
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% 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
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 88% in Iowa - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
50.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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
Counselors5.3 FTE
Per 318 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
452
in-school suspensions + 293 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 43.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 45.5%
African American 21.9%
Hispanic or Latino 15.1%
Two or More 7.2%
Asian 6.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 45.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.2, West High School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
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 West High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hoover Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kittrell Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Expo Alternative Learning Center | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lowell Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 538
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar high schools in Waterloo
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,696 students)
Frequently asked questions about West High School
How many students attend West High School?
West High School has 1,696 students enrolled. It is a high school in Waterloo, IA. CCD year-over-year: 1,652 (2022-23) → 1,713 (2023-24), nearly flat (+61).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West High School?
The student-teacher ratio at West High School is 17.7:1, which is 20% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West High School?
48.4% of students at West High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West High School?
The largest demographic group at West High School is White at 45.5% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West High School?
West High School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 West High School rank among public schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, West High School ranks #15 of 16 public 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 public schools in Waterloo on the city page.
What other schools are in Waterloo Comm School District?
Besides West High School, Waterloo Comm School District also operates East High School (1,016 students), Hoover Middle School (848 students), and Kittrell Elementary School (576 students). See the Waterloo Comm School District district page for the complete list.