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A−

Cedar Falls Community School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12

Serves Cedar Falls, and parts of Waterloo.

Cedar Falls’ School Grade A− better than 82% of Iowa school districts

Students
5,853
Schools
10
Spent per student
$11,799
IA $13,713
Students per teacher
14:1
Free or reduced lunch
24%
Debt
$130.3M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Cedar Falls Community School District

  • Its letter, A−: results better than 82% of Iowa districts
  • Math proficiency 13 pts above the state
  • Reading proficiency 12 pts above the state
  • Spends 14% less per student than the IA average
  • 14 students per teacher
  • Debt of $130.3M, about $22,270 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A−: better than 82% of the 326 Iowa school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A
GraduationFour-year graduation above the state, class of 2023
B−
The town it serves, and its School Grade

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Cedar Falls. Grade by grade →

PK–67 schoolsThis district
7–92 schoolsThis district
10–12Cedar Falls High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. IA

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency77%
State average 63.8% · 3,883 students tested
Reading / language arts82%
State average 69.7% · 3,883 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)92%
State average 87.5% · 397 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$11,799 per student · 14% below IA
Spending
Classroom instruction 68%Support & administration 28%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 48%State 47%Federal 4%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
5,787’20
5,842’21
5,840’22
5,886’23
5,853’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 82%Two or more races 7%Black 4%Hispanic 3%Asian 3%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

10 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools.

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Iowa.