The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in Math. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cunningham School
Cunningham School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Waterloo, Iowa, as part of the Waterloo Comm School District. It is a regular public elementary school, not a charter or magnet.
The student body draws from a community that is a mid-sized city and a regional hub for healthcare, education, and manufacturing in Black Hawk County. Waterloo has a notable industrial heritage, with John Deere as a long-standing employer. The city is diverse, with a population that is a mix of white, Black, and growing Latino, Congolese, and Burmese communities. Housing in the area is relatively affordable when compared to state and national benchmarks, and the rental market shows a modest year-over-year increase. The district itself is undergoing a major change: the consolidation of its two traditional high schools into a single new facility called Waterloo United High School, a transition that will shape the educational landscape for years to come but does not directly affect an elementary school.
Cunningham’s enrollment is large for an elementary school serving this grade band. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a high-poverty context. The student population is majority Black, with smaller shares of students who are white, Hispanic, two or more races, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was not available in the provided records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those programs and supports.
On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, the most recent results show a mixed picture. In mathematics, about half of students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, that figure is lower, with roughly two in five students meeting the proficiency benchmark. Science performance is the weakest area, with one in four students reaching proficiency. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Black Hawk County. There is only one year of testing data available in the record, so no academic trend can be established.
Because Cunningham ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Students will move on to a middle school within the district for their upper grades.
The school’s disciplinary climate, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance patterns are not included in the available data, making it difficult to fully assess the day-to-day environment. A parent interested in these details should follow up with the school directly.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is one where the school serves a high-needs population and is working to lift performance in literacy and science especially. The building is a neighborhood elementary in an affordable, mid-sized city with a diverse population. The district’s upcoming high school consolidation is a longer-term consideration that will matter when a child reaches upper grades, but it does not affect the elementary experience now. Families who value a traditional public school setting and are comfortable engaging with a school that is actively addressing achievement gaps may find Cunningham a reasonable fit, and a conversation with the principal about reading and math intervention supports would be a useful next step.
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