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If you could change one rule at W J Zahnow Elem School, what would it be?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
487
Elementary
DISTRICT 426 · STATE 381
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·WATERLOO CUSD 5·NCES 174107004879
W J Zahnow Elementary School
301 Hamacher St, Waterloo, IL 62298 · (618) 939-3458 · Monroe County
GRADES PK–01ELEMENTARY31-TOWNREGULAR SCHOOL487 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
14.8:1
33 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 15.7:1 · STATE 13.9:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
25%
120 students
DISTRICT 21% · STATE 56%
Community
5
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 101 | 21% |
| Kindergarten | 170 | 35% |
| Grade 1 | 216 | 44% |
Student demographics
14%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 13% · STATE 69% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
School pathway
Students here typically continue to
W J Zahnow Elementary School→Rogers Elementary School→Gardner Elementary School→Waterloo Junior High School→Waterloo High School
Based on grade levels within Waterloo CUSD 5. Attendance zones can vary; confirm enrollment with the district.
Schools most like W J Zahnow Elementary School
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| W J Zahnow Elementary School this school | 487 | 24.6% | N/A |
| Washington School Monticello | 543 | 26.0% | 53.6% |
| Heyworth Elementary School Heyworth | 472 | 24.2% | 56.5% |
| C R Hanna Elementary School Orion | 434 | 23.3% | 60.6% |
| LeRoy Elementary School Le Roy | 405 | 26.7% | 47.2% |
| Rogers Elementary School Waterloo | 417 | 20.9% | 74.9% |
Matched among Illinois elementary schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where W J Zahnow Elementary School ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In Illinois | In Monroe County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 487 | #602 of 2,419 | #1 of 6 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.8:1 | #1,481 of 2,035 | N/A |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 13.7% | #1,799 of 2,042 | N/A |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 24.6% | #1,874 of 2,132 | #1 of 6 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked fastest growth first | +20.0% | #119 of 615 | N/A |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
487
+51 (+12%) vs 2020
-34% since 1990-91, when it was 733
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 487 | 33 | 14.8:1 | 25% (120) |
| 2023-24 | 473 | 33.1 | 14.3:1 | 24% (115) |
| 2022-23 | 488 | 32.7 | 14.9:1 | 22% (106) |
| 2020-21 | 436 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2017-18 | 406 | 22.3 | 18.2:1 | 17% (70) |
| 2015-16 | 430 | 23 | 18.7:1 | 23% (100) |
| 2010-11 | 443 | 23 | 19.3:1 | 21% (91) |
| 2000-01 | 511 | 34 | 15.0:1 | N/A |
| 1990-91 | 733 | 33 | 22.2:1 | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for W J Zahnow Elementary School.
Since 2017-18: students up 20% (406 to 487); teachers up 48% (22.3 to 33).
About W J Zahnow Elementary School
W J Zahnow Elementary School is an elementary school with a street address in Waterloo, Illinois. It reports enrollment of 487 students in pre-K through 1. Across elementary schools in Illinois, the average enrollment is about 381.
Waterloo CUSD 5 has 2,767 students in 5 schools, and W J Zahnow Elementary School is one of those schools.
White students account for 93% of the school's enrollment. The rest of enrollment is 3% Hispanic and 3% multiracial. Among Monroe County residents, the White share is about 96%. Its diversity index, the chance that two randomly chosen students belong to different racial or ethnic groups, is 14%.
W J Zahnow Elementary School reported 33 full-time-equivalent teachers in 2024-25, a ratio of 14.8:1. Elementary schools in Illinois have an average ratio of 13.9:1. Roughly 25% of students at W J Zahnow Elementary School can receive free or reduced-price lunch.
In Monroe County, where the school is located, the median household earns about $102,880 a year, 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and about 4% of people live in poverty. Counting W J Zahnow Elementary School, Monroe County has 14 public schools.
W J Zahnow Elementary School's closest public school neighbor is Waterloo Junior High School, about 0.3 miles away. Within five miles of W J Zahnow Elementary School, there are 4 other public schools.
In the federal locale system, W J Zahnow Elementary School is coded Town: Fringe, for schools in a town close to an urbanized area.
By 2024-25, enrollment had risen to 487, from 436 in 2020-21.
This community page is for conversations about athletics, class schedules, and weather closures. You can also rate the school on this page.
Monroe County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
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
Related schools
Other schools in Waterloo CUSD 5
- Waterloo High SchoolHigh · 876 students
- Waterloo Junior High SchoolMiddle · 613 students
- Rogers Elementary SchoolElementary · 417 students
- Gardner Elementary SchoolElementary · 374 students
Other schools in Waterloo
- Waterloo High SchoolHigh · 876 students
- Waterloo Junior High SchoolMiddle · 613 students
- Rogers Elementary SchoolElementary · 417 students
- Gardner Elementary SchoolElementary · 374 students
Nearby schools
- Waterloo Junior High School0.3 mi · 613
- Rogers Elementary School0.4 mi · 417
- Gardner Elementary School0.5 mi · 374
- Waterloo High School1.7 mi · 876
- Eagleview Elementary School7.4 mi · 259
- Valmeyer Elementary School7.5 mi · 152
Frequently asked questions
About W J Zahnow Elementary SchoolHow many students attend W J Zahnow Elementary School?
W J Zahnow Elementary School enrolls approximately 487 students in grades PK-01.
Is W J Zahnow Elementary School an elementary, middle, or high school?
W J Zahnow Elementary School is an elementary school covering grades PK-01.
How many students per teacher at W J Zahnow Elementary School?
Approximately 14.8:1 students per teacher at W J Zahnow Elementary School.
What is the racial breakdown of students at W J Zahnow Elementary School?
At W J Zahnow Elementary School, the student body is approximately 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 1% Black, 1% Asian, 3% Two or more.
Is W J Zahnow Elementary School public or private?
W J Zahnow 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.