Summary:
The Waterloo School District in Wisconsin has two middle schools: Waterloo Middle and Waterloo Intermediate. Based on the available data, neither school appears to be a standout performer, as both are consistently underperforming compared to the state averages on key metrics.
Academically, both Waterloo Middle and Waterloo Intermediate have significantly lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics compared to the state of Wisconsin. For example, in 2023-2024, Waterloo Middle's 7th-grade proficiency rates were 43.55% in ELA and 33.87% in Math, well below the state averages of 51.77% and 53.53%, respectively. Waterloo Intermediate's 5th-grade proficiency rates were also notably lower than the state at 32.69% in both ELA and Math. Additionally, both schools have higher-than-average chronic absenteeism rates, which can contribute to their academic struggles.
Socioeconomic factors may also be playing a role in the schools' performance. Both Waterloo Middle and Waterloo Intermediate have relatively high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 36.21% and 40.95%, respectively. While the district's spending per student is slightly higher than the state average, the data suggests that the Waterloo School District may be facing challenges in supporting its students' academic and social-emotional needs. To improve student outcomes, the district may need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to address the root causes of the schools' underperformance.
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