West High School

Summary:

West High School is a public high school located in Waterloo, Iowa, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,652 students. The school is part of the Waterloo Community School District, which is ranked 293 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

West High School has a relatively diverse student population, with 49.52% White, 19.55% African American, 14.47% Hispanic, and smaller percentages of Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and students of two or more races. Academically, the school's performance, as measured by the ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress), is generally higher than the Waterloo Community School District average but lower than the state average. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 68.7% of 10th-grade students at West High School were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 60.8% for the district and 73.8% for the state. Additionally, West High School has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 62.06% to 62.53% over the past three school years.

Compared to nearby schools, West High School generally performs better academically than the Expo Alternative Learning Center, which is also part of the Waterloo Community School District, but lags behind the higher-performing schools like Jesup High School, Janesville Junior-Senior High School, and Denver Senior High School. Additionally, West High School's statewide ranking has been declining over the past several years, from a high of 199 out of 320 Iowa high schools in the 2017-2018 school year to a low of 271 out of 338 in the 2023-2024 school year.

Detail:

Public 9-12

425 E Ridgeway Ave
Waterloo, IA 50702

(319) 433-2700

District: Waterloo Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
271^st of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,055

Feeder schools for West High School:

Elementary:	Fred Becker Elementary School
	Irving Elementary School
	Kingsley Elementary School
	Kittrell Elementary School
	More...
	Lou Henry Elementary School
	Lowell Elementary School
	Orange Elementary School
Middle:	Central Middle School
	Hoover Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.1

Number of students: 1,652

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.5%

African American:

19.6%

Hispanic:

14.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 62.4%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare West High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details West High School ranks worse than 80.2% of high schools in Iowa. It also ranks first among 3 ranked high schools in the Waterloo Community School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.46. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

Compare Details West High School has the largest high school student body size in the Waterloo Community School District. Student population at West High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (49.5%), African American (19.6%), Hispanic (14.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 62.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Waterloo Community School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West High School is 17.1, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Waterloo Community School District! (See more...)

Compare West High School employs 96.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at West High School is $13,055, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Waterloo Community School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

West High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks West High School 271^st of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See West High School in the ranking list.)

Waterloo Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Waterloo Community School District 293^rd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for West High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	27.49	299^th	351	14.8%
2013	47.56	229^th	351	34.8%
2014	26.59	265^th	322	17.7%
2015	20.82	278^th	324	14.2%
2016	26.26	259^th	320	19.1%
2017	26.04	274^th	325	15.7%
2018	49.13	199^th	320	37.8%
2019	27.26	265^th	327	19.0%
2021	30.47	260^th	327	20.5%
2022	40.36	219^th	332	34.0%
2023	31.63	263^rd	336	21.7%
2024	29.46	271^st	338	19.8%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for West High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	1140	189	17	12	3	n/a	n/a	1361
1989	1462	319	25	15	3	n/a	n/a	1824
1990	1480	319	24	16	2	n/a	n/a	1841
1991	1463	332	24	16	0	n/a	n/a	1835
1992	1487	312	37	11	5	n/a	n/a	1852
1993	1394	311	41	12	7	n/a	n/a	1765
1994	1350	328	43	16	4	n/a	n/a	1741
1995	1297	338	35	19	3	n/a	n/a	1692
1996	1297	338	35	19	3	n/a	n/a	1692
1997	1308	294	37	26	3	n/a	n/a	1668
1998	1350	298	33	34	3	n/a	n/a	1718
1999	1396	293	32	33	5	n/a	n/a	1759
2000	1386	311	31	37	5	n/a	n/a	1770
2001	1360	303	34	44	4	n/a	n/a	1745
2002	1379	310	32	65	3	n/a	n/a	1789
2003	1379	310	32	65	3	n/a	n/a	1789
2004	1409	317	34	76	9	n/a	n/a	1845
2005	1444	307	34	89	7	n/a	n/a	1881
2006	1426	315	33	84	12	n/a	n/a	1870
2007	1341	308	31	105	2	n/a	n/a	1787
2008	1277	298	33	124	3	n/a	n/a	1735
2009	1188	322	24	135	3	n/a	n/a	1672
2010	1096	339	23	136	5	2	3	1604
2011	1083	310	27	145	7	2	25	1599
2012	1039	310	27	144	7	8	41	1576
2013	1055	289	32	155	8	6	55	1600
2014	1033	248	46	164	7	12	78	1588
2015	1034	308	63	157	7	19	79	1667
2016	992	304	74	166	6	24	76	1642
2017	961	306	76	185	7	38	75	1648
2018	948	339	114	205	4	43	72	1725
2019	942	313	105	213	3	42	68	1686
2020	917	318	105	224	2	54	78	1698
2021	902	346	93	201	4	66	109	1721
2022	838	316	83	217	3	67	120	1644
2023	818	323	93	239	3	65	111	1652

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at West High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1361	79.5	17.1	14
1989	1824	12.4	147.0	16.2
1990	1841	124.0	14.8	16.1
1991	1835	116.5	15.7	15.5
1992	1852	123.0	15.0	14.4
1993	1765	121.2	14.6	13.1
1994	1741	108.2	16.1	16.9
1995	1692	100.1	16.9	18.3
1996	1692	100.1	16.9	18.3
1997	1668	90.0	18.5	17.1
1998	1718	84.0	20.5	27.5
1999	1759	106.3	16.5	32.1
2000	1770	110.0	16.1	25.1
2001	1745	82.0	21.3	34
2002	1789	96.4	18.6	35
2003	1789	96.4	18.6	35
2004	1845	108.4	17.0	36
2005	1881	105.2	17.9	26.1
2006	1870	114.3	16.4	28.1
2007	1787	104.4	17.1	33.1
2008	1735	101.6	17.1	32.4
2009	1672	100.0	16.7	37
2010	1604	103.7	15.4	38.3
2011	1599	92.5	17.2	50.8
2012	1576	94.8	16.6	51.1
2013	1600	99.9	16.0	53.2
2014	1588	97.2	16.3	46
2015	1667	102.0	16.3	54.8
2016	1642	103.0	15.9	49.1
2017	1648	103.9	15.8	55.5
2018	1725	103.4	16.6	49.9
2019	1686	107.1	15.7	57.1
2020	1698	100.3	16.9	58
2021	1721	100.4	17.1	62.1
2022	1644	100.2	16.3	62.5
2023	1652	96.5	17.1	62.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio West High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1361	79.5	17.1	14
1989	1824	12.4	147.0	16.2
1990	1841	124.0	14.8	16.1
1991	1835	116.5	15.7	15.5
1992	1852	123.0	15.0	14.4
1993	1765	121.2	14.6	13.1
1994	1741	108.2	16.1	16.9
1995	1692	100.1	16.9	18.3
1996	1692	100.1	16.9	18.3
1997	1668	90.0	18.5	17.1
1998	1718	84.0	20.5	27.5
1999	1759	106.3	16.5	32.1
2000	1770	110.0	16.1	25.1
2001	1745	82.0	21.3	34
2002	1789	96.4	18.6	35
2003	1789	96.4	18.6	35
2004	1845	108.4	17.0	36
2005	1881	105.2	17.9	26.1
2006	1870	114.3	16.4	28.1
2007	1787	104.4	17.1	33.1
2008	1735	101.6	17.1	32.4
2009	1672	100.0	16.7	37
2010	1604	103.7	15.4	38.3
2011	1599	92.5	17.2	50.8
2012	1576	94.8	16.6	51.1
2013	1600	99.9	16.0	53.2
2014	1588	97.2	16.3	46
2015	1667	102.0	16.3	54.8
2016	1642	103.0	15.9	49.1
2017	1648	103.9	15.8	55.5
2018	1725	103.4	16.6	49.9
2019	1686	107.1	15.7	57.1
2020	1698	100.3	16.9	58
2021	1721	100.4	17.1	62.1
2022	1644	100.2	16.3	62.5
2023	1652	96.5	17.1	62.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for West High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$432 (3.3%)	$12,622 (96.7%)	$13,055

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on West High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 265^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 263^rd of 336 High schools	2.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (West High School)	65.9	66.7	0.8%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Waterloo Community School District)	58.2	59.3	1.1%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (West High School)	60.6	59.5	1.1%
10th Grade Mathematics (Waterloo Community School District)	54.1	52	2.1%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (West High School)	64.1	64.6	0.5%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Waterloo Community School District)	59.3	58.6	0.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (West High School)	56.2	62.5	6.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Waterloo Community School District)	49.3	55.5	6.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	66.9	67.3	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1686	1652	2%
African American	313	323	3.2%
American Indian	3	3
Asian	105	93	11.4%
Hispanic	213	239	12.2%
Pacific Islander	42	65	54.8%
White	942	818	13.2%
Two or More Races	68	111	63.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	57.1%	62.4%	5.3%

Schools Near West High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)						ISASP Mathematics (2024)						ISASP Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
West High School	Public	9-12	425 E Ridgeway Ave	Waterloo	50702	Black Hawk County	Waterloo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 433-2700	1,652	97	17.1	62.4%	818 (49.5%)	323 (19.6%)	239 (14.5%)	93 (5.6%)	3 (0.2%)	65 (3.9%)	111 (6.7%)	29.5	271^st of 338 public high schools	19.8%		31.6	263^rd of 336 public high schools	21.7%	8				68.5	68.7	65.9				51.3	64.5	54.6		52.5	$13,055	$432	$12,622
East High School	Public	9-12	214 High St	Waterloo	50703	Black Hawk County	Waterloo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 433-2400	1,022	59	17.2	73.2%	404 (39.5%)	328 (32.1%)	169 (16.5%)	6 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	24 (2.3%)	89 (8.7%)	7.6	316^th of 338 public high schools	6.5%		7.2	318^th of 336 public high schools	5.4%	2				50.2	55.9	49.2				43.0	50.0	45.1		34.0	$15,126	$451	$14,674
Expo Alternative Learning Center	Public	6-12	1410 Independence Ave	Waterloo	50703	Black Hawk County	Waterloo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 433-1930	609	34	18.1	84.7%	229 (37.6%)	226 (37.1%)	61 (10.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (1.6%)	80 (13.1%)	0.1	335^th of 338 public high schools	0.9%		0.4	332^nd of 336 public high schools	1.2%	3			23.1	30.8	28.0	35.4			30.8	13.0	15.7	12.2	25.0	18.2	$14,570	$546	$14,023
Cedar Falls High School	Public	10-12	1015 Division St	Cedar Falls	50613	Black Hawk County	Cedar Falls Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 553-2500	1,302	95	13.7	23.9%	1,104 (84.8%)	56 (4.3%)	40 (3.1%)	43 (3.3%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	55 (4.2%)	74.8	64^th of 338 public high schools	81.1%		76.8	48^th of 336 public high schools	85.7%	16					81.5	77.8					79.6	79.2		78.4	$13,835	$301	$13,534
Hudson High School	Public	7-12	245 S Washington	Hudson	50643	Black Hawk County	Hudson Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 988-4226	342	25	13.5	26.9%	293 (85.7%)	6 (1.8%)	23 (6.7%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.0%)	83.3	19^th of 338 public high schools	94.4%		84.3	24^th of 336 public high schools	92.9%	5		82.7	78.7	86.7	83.6	90.2		70.7	85.1	78.3	80.3	91.8	59.6	80.3	$13,977	$58	$13,919
Dunkerton High School	Public	6-12	509 Canfield	Dunkerton	50626	Black Hawk County	Dunkerton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 822-4295	211	20	10.7	38.4%	193 (91.5%)	3 (1.4%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (5.2%)	56	170^th of 338 public high schools	49.7%		50.3	185^th of 336 public high schools	44.9%	15	83.3	77.3	75.0	76.0	90.0	67.6	79.2	81.8	78.6	64.0	73.3	62.2	60.7	70.0	$15,242	$249	$14,993
Union High School	Public	9-12	200 Adams St	La Porte City	50651	Black Hawk County	Union Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 342-2697	316	27	11.8	27.8%	280 (88.6%)	4 (1.3%)	17 (5.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.1%)	66.3	112^th of 338 public high schools	66.9%		55.1	163^rd of 336 public high schools	51.5%	51				75.4	82.1	79.1				73.9	73.8	79.1		66.7	$15,170	$348	$14,821
Denver Senior High School	Public	9-12	800 Longview Drive	Denver	50622	Bremer County	Denver Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 984-5639	262	18	14.2	11.8%	251 (95.8%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	95	2^nd of 338 public high schools	99.4%		94.8	2^nd of 336 public high schools	99.4%					97.1	97.1	98.5				89.7	89.9	94.1		94.2	$14,874	$81	$14,794
Janesville Junior-Senior High School	Public	6-12	505 Barrick Rd	Janesville	50647	Bremer County	Janesville Consolidated School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 987-2581	237	12	20.2	23.2%	226 (95.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	77	47^th of 338 public high schools	86.1%		69.8	85^th of 336 public high schools	74.7%	38	80.6	83.3	93.3	86.5	78.3	92.9	77.4	73.8	86.7	75.7	78.3	85.7	93.3	60.9	$12,726	$87	$12,639
Dike-New Hartford High School	Public	9-12	330 Main St	Dike	50624	Grundy County	Dike-New Hartford Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 989-2485	267	22	12.3	19.9%	252 (94.4%)	2 (0.7%)	4 (1.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	83.3	20^th of 338 public high schools	94.1%		81.2	33^rd of 336 public high schools	90.2%	13				85.5	88.6	83.8				84.1	82.9	82.4		81.4	$14,985	$284	$14,701

Frequently Asked Questions about West High School

What schools feed into West High School?

West High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Fred Becker Elementary School
Elementary : Irving Elementary School
Elementary : Kingsley Elementary School
Elementary : Kittrell Elementary School
Elementary : Lou Henry Elementary School
Elementary : Lowell Elementary School
Elementary : Orange Elementary School
Middle : Central Middle School
Middle : Hoover Middle School

How many students attend West High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,652 students attended West High School.

What is the racial makeup of West High School?

Students at West High School are 50% White, 20% African American, 14% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 4% Pacific Islander.

Is West High School a good school?

West High School ranks in the bottom 19.8% of Iowa high schools.

What district is West High School in?

Waterloo Community School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.