Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 7 schools in district

West Cedar Elementary School

221 15th St NW, Waverly, IA 50677Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–04Non-Charter
230
Students
Total enrolled
$15,522
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 8% vs nat'l
19.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 24% vs nat'l
56/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↑ 11% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 230 students in grades KG–04 in Waverly, Iowa.
Near-average funding
District spends $15,522 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Above-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 56th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

West Cedar Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary in Waverly, Iowa, serving grades KG–04 with 230 students. The district invests $15,522 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 16% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at West Cedar Elementary School

230
Total Students
19.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
16%
Free Lunch
12
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–04) are served by this school
Gender Distribution108 male · 122 female
47%
53%
Male 47%Female 53%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility16%
National avg 52% · 37 students
Student Composition
89%
Asian2%
White89%
Hispanic / Latino4%
Multiracial5%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 193054001751

Academic Outcomes at West Cedar Elementary School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
56
/ 100
Above-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 56th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 94th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 50677

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,522Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,522
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,830
Student Support$2,949
Administration$1,863
Operations$2,328
Other$1,552
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,522 spent per student, an estimated $6,876 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
52%
40%
State government
51.5%
Local (property tax)
39.8%
Federal programs
8.7%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 16% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • 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.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Margaretta Carey Elementary SchoolShell Rock Elementary SchoolSoutheast Elementary School
↓
Middle
Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School
↓
High School
Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High SchoolGreenview Alternative School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 04
Location—
CountyBremer County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWaverly-Shell Rock Comm School District →
Phone: (319)352-2754
NCES ID: 193054001751
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Waverly seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District
High
Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High School
771 students · 09–12
● 56 opp20% FRL
Mid
Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School
699 students · 05–08
● 56 opp22% FRL
Elem
Margaretta Carey Elementary School
237 students · KG–04
● 56 opp25% FRL
Elem
Shell Rock Elementary School
172 students · PK–04
● 52 opp36% FRL
Elem
Southeast Elementary School
164 students · KG–04
● 56 opp32% FRL
High
Greenview Alternative School
31 students · 09–12
● 56 opp48% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
221 15th St NW, Waverly, IA 50677
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.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
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.