A−
Waterloo Community Unit School District 5
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 2 towns
Serves Waterloo and Hecker, and parts of Millstadt and Prairie Du Long.
Students
2,767
Schools
5
Spent per student
$13,843
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
16:1
Free or reduced lunch
21%
Debt
$31.4M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Waterloo Community Unit School District 5
- School Grade A−: better than 81% of Illinois districts
- Math proficiency 12 pts above the state
- Reading / language arts 15 pts above the state
- Spends 36% less per student than the IL average
- 16 students per teacher
- Debt of $31.4M, about $11,348 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Hecker.
PK–1W J Zahnow Elem SchoolThis district
2–3Rogers Elem SchoolThis district
6–8Waterloo Junior High SchoolThis district
9–12Waterloo High SchoolThis district
Test scores vs. IL
2020–21Math proficiency38%
State average 25.8%
Reading / language arts46%
State average 30.7%
Graduation rate (4-year)92%
State average 87.3%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$13,843 per student · 36% below IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 34%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 62%State 35%Federal 4%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
2,687’20
2,742’21
2,768’22
2,742’23
2,767’24
About steady.
Students
White 93%Hispanic 3%Two or more races 3%Asian <1%Black <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
5 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Belleville Township High School District 201Millstadt, Smithton, Stookey
$20,728per student
Freeburg Community Consolidated School District 70New Athens, Smithton
$14,432per student
Freeburg Community High School District 77New Athens, Smithton
$16,047per student
Millstadt Consolidated Community School District 160Millstadt, Stookey
$14,718per student
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.