WACO High School

Q: Is WACO High School a good school?

WACO High School ranks 183 rd of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

WACO High School is a public high school located in Wayland, Iowa, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 215 students. The school is part of the WACO Community School District, which is ranked 229 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

WACO High School generally performs better than the state average on ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) tests, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 10.6 to 11.2 over the past three years, which is lower than most of the nearby schools. However, WACO High School's statewide ranking has varied significantly over the years, ranging from 64th out of 332 Iowa high schools in 2021-2022 (4 stars) to 183rd out of 338 in 2023-2024 (2 stars), suggesting inconsistent performance or changes in assessment criteria.

Compared to nearby schools, Highland High School and Fairfield High School have higher test scores in several subject areas and grade levels. Additionally, WACO High School has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 41.4% to 48.46% over the past three years, which is higher than some nearby schools but lower than others, such as Columbus Community High School.

Detail:

Public 7-12

706 N Pearl
Wayland, IA 52654

(319) 256-6200

District: Waco Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
183^rd of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,055

Feeder schools for WACO High School:

Elementary:

Waco Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.6

Number of students: 244

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.0%

Hispanic:

5.3%

Two or more races:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 42.2%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare WACO High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details WACO High School ranks worse than 70.3% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 39.05. (See more...)

Compare Details WACO High School ranks worse than 54.1% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 51.89. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at WACO High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91%), Hispanic (5.3%), two or more races (2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 42.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at WACO High School is 11.6. (See more...)

Compare WACO High School employs 20.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at WACO High School is $15,055.

Schooldigger Rankings:

WACO High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks WACO High School 237^th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See WACO High School in the ranking list.)

SchoolDigger ranks WACO High School 183^rd of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See WACO High School in the ranking list.)

Waco Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Waco Community School District 229^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for WACO High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	53.96	167^th	349	52.1%
2013	38.34	259^th	350	26.0%
2014	59.94	142^nd	337	57.9%
2015	38.65	247^th	349	29.2%
2016	48.23	203^rd	343	40.8%
2017	38.98	236^th	327	27.8%
2018	69.75	80^th	318	74.8%
2019	47.52	202^nd	342	40.9%
2021	45.08	202^nd	324	37.7%
2022	34.40	249^th	337	26.1%
2023	56.37	170^th	334	49.1%
2024	39.05	237^th	337	29.7%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Rank History for WACO High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	66.44	121^st	351	65.5%
2013	51.44	214^th	351	39.0%
2014	75.15	71^st	322	78.0%
2016	53.96	162^nd	320	49.4%
2017	66.52	115^th	325	64.6%
2018	50.87	192^nd	320	40.0%
2019	27.31	264^th	327	19.3%
2021	59.60	132^nd	327	59.6%
2022	74.63	64^th	332	80.7%
2023	64.28	113^th	336	66.4%
2024	51.89	183^rd	338	45.9%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for WACO High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	220	0	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	225
1989	217	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	219
1990	199	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	201
1991	199	1	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	206
1992	203	2	3	1	1	n/a	n/a	210
1993	228	1	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	236
1994	247	0	0	1	1	n/a	n/a	249
1995	252	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	254
1996	252	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	254
1997	260	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	263
1998	272	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	275
1999	281	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	284
2000	275	0	1	2	2	n/a	n/a	280
2001	282	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	284
2002	278	9	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	291
2003	278	9	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	291
2004	237	4	1	4	1	n/a	n/a	247
2005	247	5	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	258
2006	259	7	1	7	2	n/a	n/a	276
2007	248	6	3	7	2	n/a	n/a	266
2008	233	7	4	11	1	n/a	n/a	256
2009	230	4	2	8	1	n/a	n/a	245
2010	210	4	0	9	1	0	4	228
2011	207	5	0	9	1	0	4	226
2012	214	4	0	8	0	0	3	229
2013	195	3	3	6	0	0	3	210
2014	176	6	4	6	0	0	2	194
2015	179	5	5	11	0	0	2	202
2016	171	2	4	8	1	0	5	191
2017	171	4	4	10	1	0	4	194
2018	176	4	6	15	1	0	4	206
2019	177	4	7	12	1	0	6	207
2020	193	2	5	12	2	0	7	221
2021	186	2	5	12	2	0	5	212
2022	193	3	6	14	1	0	10	227
2023	193	1	5	9	1	0	6	215
2024	222	0	3	13	1	0	5	244

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 WACO High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	225	22.7	9.9	11.1
1989	219	22.7	9.6	12.3
1990	201	23.7	8.4	12.9
1991	206	23.7	8.6	9.7
1992	210	18.0	11.6	26.7
1993	236	18.8	12.6	20.3
1994	249	18.4	13.5	20.1
1995	254	22.0	11.5	16.5
1996	254	22.0	11.5	16.5
1997	263	23.6	11.1	17.1
1998	275	24.4	11.3	17.1
1999	284	19.1	14.9	23.2
2000	280	20.3	13.8	26.4
2001	284	21.0	13.5	25
2002	291	25.1	11.6	23
2003	291	25.1	11.6	23
2004	247	23.3	10.6	25.1
2005	258	24.1	10.7	31
2006	276	25.6	10.8	35.1
2007	266	22.3	11.9	34.2
2008	256	23.2	11.0	29.3
2009	245	23.2	10.6	30.6
2010	228	23.9	9.5	31.6
2011	226	24.0	9.3	36.3
2012	229	22.3	10.2	35.4
2013	210	18.8	11.1	35.7
2014	194	20.1	9.6	41.8
2015	202	21.0	9.6	35.6
2016	191	20.0	9.5	36.6
2017	194	20.3	9.5	41.8
2018	206	20.4	10.0	39.8
2019	207	20.0	10.3	40.1
2020	221	18.9	11.6	44.3
2021	212	19.9	10.6	44.3
2022	227	20.2	11.2	48.5
2023	215	20.2	10.6	41.4
2024	244	20.8	11.6	42.2

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 WACO High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	225	22.7	9.9	11.1
1989	219	22.7	9.6	12.3
1990	201	23.7	8.4	12.9
1991	206	23.7	8.6	9.7
1992	210	18.0	11.6	26.7
1993	236	18.8	12.6	20.3
1994	249	18.4	13.5	20.1
1995	254	22.0	11.5	16.5
1996	254	22.0	11.5	16.5
1997	263	23.6	11.1	17.1
1998	275	24.4	11.3	17.1
1999	284	19.1	14.9	23.2
2000	280	20.3	13.8	26.4
2001	284	21.0	13.5	25
2002	291	25.1	11.6	23
2003	291	25.1	11.6	23
2004	247	23.3	10.6	25.1
2005	258	24.1	10.7	31
2006	276	25.6	10.8	35.1
2007	266	22.3	11.9	34.2
2008	256	23.2	11.0	29.3
2009	245	23.2	10.6	30.6
2010	228	23.9	9.5	31.6
2011	226	24.0	9.3	36.3
2012	229	22.3	10.2	35.4
2013	210	18.8	11.1	35.7
2014	194	20.1	9.6	41.8
2015	202	21.0	9.6	35.6
2016	191	20.0	9.5	36.6
2017	194	20.3	9.5	41.8
2018	206	20.4	10.0	39.8
2019	207	20.0	10.3	40.1
2020	221	18.9	11.6	44.3
2021	212	19.9	10.6	44.3
2022	227	20.2	11.2	48.5
2023	215	20.2	10.6	41.4
2024	244	20.8	11.6	42.2

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 WACO High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$394 (2.6%)	$14,661 (97.4%)	$15,055

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on WACO High School

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 202^nd of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 170^th of 334 Middle schools	8.2%
Ranks 264^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 113^th of 336 High schools	47.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (WACO High School)	65.6	72.4	6.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Waco Community School District)	65.6	72.4	6.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (WACO High School)	68.8	75.9	7.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Waco Community School District)	68.8	75.9	7.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (WACO High School)	71.1	73.7	2.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Waco Community School District)	71.1	73.7	2.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (WACO High School)	71.1	86.8	15.7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Waco Community School District)	71.1	86.8	15.7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.8	72	0.2%
10th Grade English Language Arts (WACO High School)	67.7	100	32.3%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Waco Community School District)	67.7	100	32.3%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (WACO High School)	45.2	74.2	29%
10th Grade Mathematics (Waco Community School District)	45.2	74.2	29%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (WACO High School)	63.2	84.8	21.6%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Waco Community School District)	63.2	84.8	21.6%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (WACO High School)	65.8	66.7	0.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Waco Community School District)	65.8	66.7	0.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	66.9	67.3	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	207	215	3.9%
African American	4	1	75%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	7	5	28.6%
Hispanic	12	9	25%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	177	193	9%
Two or More Races	6	6
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	40.1%	41.4%	1.3%

Schools Near WACO High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)						ISASP Mathematics (2024)						ISASP Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
WACO High School	Public	7-12	706 N Pearl	Wayland	52654	Henry County	Waco Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 256-6200	244	21	11.6	42.2%	222 (91.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.3%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	51.9	183^rd of 338 public high schools	45.9%		64.3	113^th of 336 public high schools	66.4%	70		73.1	64.1	74.4	69.4	90.6		73.1	71.8	64.1	55.6	78.1	64.1	63.9	$15,055	$394	$14,661
Washington High School	Public	9-12	1111 S. Ave. B	Washington	52353	Washington County	Washington Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 653-2143	435	27	15.8	43.7%	308 (70.8%)	5 (1.1%)	103 (23.7%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	11 (2.5%)	19.2	295^th of 338 public high schools	12.7%		29.7	266^th of 336 public high schools	20.8%	29				63.9	52.3	52.8				57.1	54.2	57.4		48.6	$14,648	$741	$13,907
Winfield-Mt Union Junior-Senior High School	Public	6-12	208 S Olive	Winfield	52659	Henry County	Winfield-Mt Union Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 257-7701	205	15	13.5	48.8%	183 (89.3%)	2 (1.0%)	19 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	24.5	282^nd of 338 public high schools	16.6%		29.1	268^th of 336 public high schools	20.2%	14	85.7	83.3	67.9	64.5	73.5	48.0	71.4	66.7	50.0	48.4	64.7	44.0	35.7	50.0	$12,857	$210	$12,647
WisdomQuest Education Center	Public	10-12	401 E. Monroe Street	Mount Pleasant	52641	Henry County	Mount Pleasant Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 385-7709	22	1	22.2	63.6%	17 (77.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (18.2%)								(n/a)															$11,984	$82	$11,902
Mount Pleasant High School	Public	9-12	2104 S. Grand Avenue	Mount Pleasant	52641	Henry County	Mount Pleasant Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 385-7700	521	43	12.2	43.4%	407 (78.1%)	6 (1.2%)	73 (14.0%)	20 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.7%)	37.9	246^th of 338 public high schools	27.2%		41.7	225^th of 336 public high schools	33.0%	21				68.1	62.0	68.5				58.0	65.2	73.2		55.8	$14,523	$290	$14,233
Columbus Community High School	Public	9-12	1004 Colton St	Columbus Junction	52738	Louisa County	Columbus Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 728-2231	203	21	9.7	57.1%	58 (28.6%)	7 (3.4%)	130 (64.0%)	8 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35.6	257^th of 338 public high schools	24.0%		37.3	245^th of 336 public high schools	27.1%	12				75.0	65.4	76.0				45.5	59.6	66.0		51.9	$18,475	$545	$17,930
Fairfield High School	Public	9-12	605 E Broadway	Fairfield	52556	Jefferson County	Fairfield Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 472-2059	445	28	15.9	43.1%	370 (83.1%)	11 (2.5%)	27 (6.1%)	9 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.1%)	44	227^th of 338 public high schools	32.8%		24.7	280^th of 336 public high schools	16.7%	53				76.9	78.0	58.0				66.7	67.0	54.5		59.6	$14,744	$133	$14,611
Highland High School	Public	9-12	1715 Vine Avenue	Riverside	52327	Washington County	Highland Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 648-2891	169	16	10.2	22.5%	147 (87.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (11.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	56	168^th of 338 public high schools	50.3%		59.1	139^th of 336 public high schools	58.6%	29				74.4	81.1	72.7				61.5	73.0	68.2		70.3	$15,774	$112	$15,662

Frequently Asked Questions about WACO High School

What schools feed into WACO High School?

WACO High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Waco Elementary School

What district is WACO High School in?

Waco Community School District

How many students attend WACO High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 244 students attended WACO High School.

Is WACO High School a good school?

WACO High School ranks 183^rd of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of WACO High School?

Students at WACO High School are 91% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Rate WACO High School!

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