Waterloo Elementary

Summary:

Waterloo Elementary is a public elementary school serving 271 students in grades PK-5 in Waterloo, South Carolina, which is part of the Laurens 55 school district. While the school consistently outperforms the district and state in academic achievement, it has a unique student population and faces ongoing challenges in maintaining its excellence.

Waterloo Elementary stands out for its significantly higher percentage of white students (71.22%) compared to nearby schools, as well as its strong academic performance. In the 2023-2024 school year, 61.3% of 3rd graders at Waterloo Elementary were proficient or better in English Language Arts, far exceeding the district (33.3%) and state (53.8%) averages. However, the school's statewide ranking has declined from a high of 94 out of 630 schools in 2013-2014 to 253 out of 638 schools in the 2023-2024 school year, suggesting it may be struggling to maintain its academic excellence over time.

Waterloo Elementary's high per-student spending of $13,842 in the 2022-2023 school year and the fact that 100% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch indicate that the school is serving a population with significant economic challenges. While Waterloo Elementary generally outperforms nearby schools in the Laurens 55 district, its performance is less impressive when compared to schools in the neighboring Greenwood 50 district, such as Merrywood Elementary and Pinecrest Elementary.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 10457 Highway 221 South
       Waterloo, SC  29384


(864) 677-5610

District: Laurens 55

SchoolDigger Rank:
253rd of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,842 Help


Students who attend Waterloo Elementary usually attend:

High:    Laurens District 55 High

Student/teacher ratio:  9.8 Help
Number of students:  257

Racial breakdown:

White:
75.5%
African American:
15.6%
Two or more races:
4.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Waterloo Elementary ranks better than 60.3% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks first among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Laurens 55 School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 59.85. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Waterloo Elementary has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Laurens 55 School District. Racial makeup is: White (75.5%), African American (15.6%), two or more races (4.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Laurens 55 School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Waterloo Elementary is 9.8, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Laurens 55 School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Waterloo Elementary employs 26 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Waterloo Elementary is $13,842, which is the highest among 6 elementary schools in the Laurens 55 School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Waterloo Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Waterloo Elementary 253rd of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See Waterloo Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
White students:


Laurens 55:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurens 55 63rd of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Waterloo Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Waterloo Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 55.03 270th 542 50.2%
2004 67.25 175th 550 68.2%
2005 68.12 177th 557 68.2%
2006 49.21 317th 559 43.3%
2007 42.36 376th 566 33.6%
2008 34.31 428th 577 25.8%
2009 69.83 163rd 580 71.9%
2010 66.99 184th 589 68.8%
2011 74.73 127th 597 78.7%
2012 78.96 94th 594 84.2%
2013 83.98 57th 599 90.5%
2014 79.68 94th 630 85.1%
2015 62.79 197th 638 69.1%
2016 71.92 155th 619 75.0%
2017 49.80 316th 639 50.5%
2018 48.88 313th 624 49.8%
2019 34.88 426th 643 33.7%
2021 16.96 512th 622 17.7%
2022 21.64 488th 625 21.9%
2023 44.73 349th 644 45.8%
2024 59.85 253rd 638 60.3%
See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Waterloo Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.86 274th 588 53.4%
2019 35.35 416th 600 30.7%
2021 21.07 472nd 580 18.6%
2022 23.09 480th 600 20.0%
2023 60.44 223rd 608 63.3%
2024 76.96 110th 599 81.6%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Waterloo Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 53.92 278th 588 52.7%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Waterloo Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.17 375th 571 34.3%
2019 33.43 407th 590 31.0%
2021 7.69 536th 561 4.5%
2023 26.34 439th 582 24.6%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Waterloo Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.56 344th 457 24.7%
2019 11.93 441st 472 6.6%
2021 2.82 437th 439 0.5%
2022 2.51 450th 455 1.1%
2023 20.27 391st 463 15.6%
2024 40.73 290th 441 34.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

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

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Waterloo Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Waterloo Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 234 74 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1 309
2003 234 74 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1 309
2004 245 68 0 6 0 n/a n/a 1 320
2005 263 71 1 6 0 n/a n/a 2 343
2006 282 66 0 7 0 n/a n/a 3 358
2007 291 76 0 6 0 n/a n/a 0 373
2008 293 82 0 8 0 n/a n/a 2 385
2009 260 61 0 5 0 n/a n/a 5 331
2010 287 75 0 5 0 n/a n/a 6 373
2011 248 53 0 4 0 0 7 0 312
2012 259 47 0 1 0 0 8 0 315
2013 227 58 0 1 0 0 4 0 290
2014 226 66 0 0 0 0 3 0 295
2015 221 49 0 2 0 0 9 0 281
2016 189 52 0 4 0 0 10 0 255
2017 195 51 0 6 1 0 9 0 262
2018 193 45 0 3 1 0 7 0 249
2019 205 49 0 3 0 0 8 0 265
2020 201 40 0 6 0 0 7 0 254
2021 192 35 2 10 0 0 8 0 247
2022 193 44 7 13 0 0 6 0 263
2023 193 46 3 19 0 0 10 0 271
2024 194 40 3 9 0 0 11 0 257

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 Waterloo Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 309 16.0 19.3 64.3
2003 309 16.0 19.3 64.3
2004 320 16.0 20.0 69.6
2005 343 18.0 19.1 69.8
2006 358 19.0 18.8 69
2007 373 38.0 9.8 71.3
2008 385 21.0 18.3 72.6
2009 331 20.0 16.6 76.4
2010 373 24.8 15.0 75.2
2011 312 17.1 18.2 77.6
2012 315 18.6 16.9 76.2
2013 290 16.6 17.4 74.5
2014 295 19.6 15.0 77.6
2015 281 19.0 14.7 72.6
2016 255 20.0 12.7 72.5
2017 262 18.0 14.5 100
2018 249 17.0 14.6 100
2019 265 19.0 13.9 100
2020 254 21.0 12.0 100
2021 247 20.0 12.3 100
2022 263 20.0 13.1 100
2023 271 21.0 12.9 100
2024 257 26.0 9.8 100

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 Waterloo Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 309 16.0 19.3 64.3
2003 309 16.0 19.3 64.3
2004 320 16.0 20.0 69.6
2005 343 18.0 19.1 69.8
2006 358 19.0 18.8 69
2007 373 38.0 9.8 71.3
2008 385 21.0 18.3 72.6
2009 331 20.0 16.6 76.4
2010 373 24.8 15.0 75.2
2011 312 17.1 18.2 77.6
2012 315 18.6 16.9 76.2
2013 290 16.6 17.4 74.5
2014 295 19.6 15.0 77.6
2015 281 19.0 14.7 72.6
2016 255 20.0 12.7 72.5
2017 262 18.0 14.5 100
2018 249 17.0 14.6 100
2019 265 19.0 13.9 100
2020 254 21.0 12.0 100
2021 247 20.0 12.3 100
2022 263 20.0 13.1 100
2023 271 21.0 12.9 100
2024 257 26.0 9.8 100

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 Waterloo Elementary

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $549 (4.9%) $197 (1.7%) $746 (6.6%) $8,451 (74.9%) $2,091 (18.5%) $10,542 (93.4%) $11,289
2020 $360 (3.2%) $227 (2.0%) $587 (5.2%) $8,692 (76.9%) $2,030 (18.0%) $10,722 (94.8%) $11,309
2021 $425 (3.4%) $342 (2.7%) $767 (6.1%) $9,762 (77.7%) $2,028 (16.2%) $11,790 (93.9%) $12,556
2022 $1,023 (6.7%) $833 (5.5%) $1,856 (12.2%) $11,031 (72.8%) $2,272 (15.0%) $13,303 (87.8%) $15,159
2023 $1,174 (8.5%) $732 (5.3%) $1,905 (13.8%) $9,708 (70.1%) $2,229 (16.1%) $11,936 (86.2%) $13,842

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Waterloo Elementary

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 426th of 643 Elementary schoolsRanks 349th of 644 Elementary schools
 12.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Waterloo Elementary)42.344.4
 2.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Laurens 55)33.533.5
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)49.753.5
 3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Waterloo Elementary)38.555.5
 17%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Laurens 55)37.637
 0.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)57.753.6
 4.1%
4th Grade Science (Waterloo Elementary)41.748.6
 6.9%
   4th Grade Science (Laurens 55)40.134.2
 5.9%
   4th Grade Science (South Carolina)5246.6
 5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Waterloo Elementary)33.351.3
 18%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Laurens 55)4041.1
 1.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)51.357.2
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Waterloo Elementary)27.837.8
 10%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Laurens 55)2932.5
 3.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)50.547
 3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Waterloo Elementary)35.433.3
 2.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Laurens 55)27.939.1
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4155.2
 14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Waterloo Elementary)41.748.1
 6.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Laurens 55)28.628.8
 0.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)45.444.6
 0.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students265271
 2.3%
African American4946
 6.1%
American Indian00
Asian03
Hispanic319
 533.3%
Pacific Islander00
White205193
 5.9%
Two or More Races810
 25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Waterloo Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Waterloo Elementary

Students who attend Waterloo Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Laurens District 55 High

Students at Waterloo Elementary are 75% White, 16% African American, 4% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

Waterloo Elementary ranks 253rd of 638 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 257 students attended Waterloo Elementary.


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





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