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Schools›Illinois›Waterloo
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·WATERLOO CUSD 5·NCES 174107006144

Gardner Elementary School

1 Ed Gardner Pl, Waterloo, IL 62298 · (618) 939-3060 · Monroe County
GRADES 04–05ELEMENTARY31-TOWNREGULAR SCHOOL374 STUDENTS
Enrollment
374
Elementary
DISTRICT 426 · STATE 381
Student : Teacher
16.2:1
23 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 15.7:1 · STATE 13.9:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
21%
77 students
DISTRICT 21% · STATE 56%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade
Grade 4
208
Grade 5
166
Student demographics
White
94%
DISTRICT 93% · STATE 45%
Hispanic
3%
DISTRICT 3% · STATE 29%
Black
1%
DISTRICT 0% · STATE 16%
Two+
2%
DISTRICT 3% · STATE 5%
Native American
n/r
Pacific Islander
n/r
n/r: not reliably reported by NCES for this school. Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment are systematically under-reported in the source data.
Gender split
Male
52%
Female
48%

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Test scores

IAR + ISA 2024-25 . % Proficient (Levels 4-5)
English Language Arts
68.9%
IL avg 51.0% . +16.6pp since 2023
Math
61.2%
IL avg 37.9% . +14.8pp since 2023
Source: IAR + ISA. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →

BeatsExpectations

Demographically-adjusted score · methodology
Tier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
62.6%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
59.6%
based on IL schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
+2.9pp
above demographic expectation
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →

7-year change

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Enrollment
374
-27 (-7%) vs 2017
Student : Teacher
16.2:1
was 17.9:1
% White
94%
was 95%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data

About Gardner Elementary School

Gardner Elementary School is one of the mid-sized elementary schools in Waterloo, Illinois, overseen by Waterloo CUSD 5, with 374 students on its rolls from grades 4 through 5.

Waterloo CUSD 5 comprises 5 schools with combined enrollment of 2,767 students; Gardner Elementary School is among them.

Looking at the student body, Gardner Elementary School records that the student body is overwhelmingly White (94%). Other groups include 3% Hispanic, 2% multiracial. Compared to Monroe County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

On the resource side, The school currently runs with 23 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 16.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Gardner Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 21% of students at Gardner Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

With demographic context factored in, Gardner Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 59.6%; this one delivers 62.6%.

Across the wider county, ACS estimates for Monroe County put median household income runs about $102,880, 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 4%. In all, Monroe County runs 14 public schools (combined enrollment of about 5,006 students), of which Gardner Elementary School is one.

Nearest neighbor: Rogers Elem School, around 0.1 miles off. Within five miles, there are 4 other public schools. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Gardner Elementary School ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, ahead of the local average of 50.8%.

The school occupies a town-based site.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Gardner Elementary School has contracted 7%, going from 401 students in 2018 to 374 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 17.9:1 in 2018 to 16.2:1 today.

On this page, members of the Gardner Elementary School community share and discuss science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.

Monroe County at a glance

View full county profile
Population
35,036
Census ACS
Median income
$102,880
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
39%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
4%
Below federal line
Schools in county
14
5,006 students

Quick facts

School name
Gardner Elementary School
District
Waterloo CUSD 5
Address
1 Ed Gardner Pl, Waterloo, IL 62298
Phone
(618) 939-3060
County
Monroe County
Level
Elementary
Grade range
04–05
Total enrollment
374
Teachers (FTE)
23
Student–teacher ratio
16.2:1
Free/Reduced lunch
77 (21%)
Locale
31-Town: Fringe
NCES ID
174107006144
Charter school
No
Virtual school
No

Related schools

Other schools in Waterloo CUSD 5
Other schools in Waterloo
Nearby schools

Frequently asked questions

About Gardner Elementary School
What is the total enrollment at Gardner Elementary School?
Gardner Elementary School enrolls approximately 374 students in grades 04-05.
What grades does Gardner Elementary School serve?
Gardner Elementary School serves grades 04-05.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gardner Elementary School?
The student-to-teacher ratio at Gardner Elementary School is approximately 16.2:1 (23 FTE teachers).
What is the student diversity at Gardner Elementary School?
Student demographics at Gardner Elementary School are roughly 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 1% Black, 2% Two or more.
Is Gardner Elementary School public or private?
Gardner Elementary School is a public K-12 school, overseen by Waterloo CUSD 5.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.
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