The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Math. The lowest is 38% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Elementary School
Lincoln Elementary School is a regular public school in Waterloo, Iowa, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Waterloo Community School District. It operates as a neighborhood elementary school within a mid-sized city that blends manufacturing, commercial, residential, and government functions. The school’s enrollment is sizable for an elementary building, with a student body that reflects the city’s notable racial and ethnic diversity. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a school community with substantial economic need. The student population is majority nonwhite, with Black students making up the largest single group and a meaningful presence of students who are white, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, biracial, and Asian.
Academically, Lincoln Elementary participates in Iowa’s statewide assessment, the ISASP. In the most recent testing year, more than half of students met proficiency benchmarks in both math and English language arts, with math showing a slightly higher proficiency rate than ELA. Science proficiency, assessed only in certain grades, fell below the halfway mark and was notably lower than the other two subjects. Across all tested subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Black Hawk County. A parent may want to look into the science results further with the school, particularly since the cohort tested is smaller and the gap between science and the other subjects is apparent. Only one year of data was available, so no trend can be assessed. Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and no chronic absenteeism data was provided.
The community context of Waterloo adds important texture. The city has a long industrial heritage, anchored by John Deere’s century-long presence, and it serves as a regional hub for healthcare, education, employment, and retail. The population is diverse and has been roughly flat with a slight decline in recent years. Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks, with home values well below the statewide figure. Rents have risen modestly, but the area remains accessible for many families. The city’s downtown core contains civic institutions like the public library and city hall, and the TechWorks Campus represents a significant development initiative focused on advanced manufacturing and innovation.
The Waterloo Community School District is undergoing a major structural change: it is consolidating its two existing high schools into a single new high school called Waterloo United High School, to be built at the current Central Middle School and Waterloo Career Center site. This means that current Lincoln Elementary families can expect a different high school landscape by the time their children reach that level, though the timeline was not specified.
For a family considering Lincoln Elementary, the picture is one of a diverse, high-poverty school where academic proficiency is mixed. Math and ELA results are above the midpoint of the school’s own performance but below the county median when averaged across subjects. The school provides a regular elementary program without specialized magnet or charter designations. The housing market in Waterloo is affordable, and the city offers a range of employment sectors. Families who value economic and racial diversity in an elementary setting may find a fit here, while those concerned about lower science performance or the current proficiency position relative to neighboring districts may want to engage directly with the school to understand its instructional supports and progress.
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