District-Wide Gains Mark Milestone Year for Waterloo Schools

School is back in session throughout Iowa and the U.S.

While schools are always under the microscope for many reasons, we often only hear the negative when it comes to what happens in the confines of our area classrooms.

But there is some great news for the Waterloo Schools to celebrate this month.

Waterloo Schools Earn Historic Gains Across State Accountability System

Waterloo Schools is celebrating historic growth in the latest Iowa School Performance Profiles, marking a milestone year of achievement across the district.

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For the first time since the state launched the accountability system, 14 of the district’s 18 schools showed year-over-year growth, while 17 of 18 met comprehensive status.

On average, Waterloo schools gained 26.7 points, posting a growth rate of 7.6 percent.

Several schools posted standout gains:

Kittrell Elementary rose 52 points, up 13 percent.
Central Middle School gained 48 points, up 18.3 percent.
Lowell Elementary improved by 48 points, up nearly 14 percent.
Lincoln Elementary grew by 43 points, up 13.2 percent.
George Washington Carver Academy climbed 44 points, up 14.8 percent.

Other schools across the district also saw double-digit percentage improvements, including Irving, Highland, Orange, Poyner, and Fred Becker elementaries.

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Dana Harskamp, Director of School Improvement, stated in a press release sent to this station,

These results are a reflection of the hard work happening every day in our classrooms

The Iowa School Performance Profiles, created by the Iowa Department of Education, evaluate schools on student achievement, academic growth, and progress toward closing achievement gaps.

Schools are rated on a scale from Comprehensive to Exceptional, providing families and communities with transparent performance data while guiding improvement strategies.

With this year’s results, Waterloo leaders say the district is demonstrating not only measurable student progress but also momentum that can inspire continued success.

Now that we know our kids are in good hands, let's check out great places to eat in Waterloo!