Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 18 schools in district

Hoover Middle School

630 Hillcrest Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701Waterloo Comm School District
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
883
Students
Total enrolled
$16,998
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
18% vs nat'l
15.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
60/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
21% vs nat'l
Large public school
Serves 883 students in grades 06–08 in Waterloo, Iowa.
18% above average funding
District spends $16,998 per pupil, 18% more than the national average of $14,347.
Above-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 60th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Hoover Middle School is a large middle in Waterloo, Iowa, serving grades 06–08 with 883 students. The district invests $16,998 per student — 18% above the national average of $14,347, with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 59% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. The surrounding neighborhood has an opportunity score of 60/100 — above the national median — suggesting children from modest-income families here tend to reach stronger economic outcomes as adults.

Student Body & Demographics at Hoover Middle School

883
Total Students
15.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
59%
Free Lunch
57
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution437 male · 446 female
49%
51%
Male 49%Female 51%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility59%
National avg 52% · 520 students
Student Composition
55%
8%
21%
8%
Asian5%
White55%
Hispanic / Latino8%
Black21%
Multiracial8%
Pacific Islander2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 193048001723

Academic Outcomes at Hoover Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
60
/ 100
Above-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 60th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 98th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 50701

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,998Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,998
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,479
Student Support$3,230
Administration$2,040
Operations$2,550
Other$1,700
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,998 spent per student, an estimated $7,530 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
57%
23%
State government
56.9%
Local (property tax)
23.0%
Federal programs
20.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $16,998/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountyBlack Hawk County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (319)433-2830
NCES ID: 193048001723
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Waterloo seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
630 Hillcrest Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.