111 Frederic Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701

The Waterloo school district seems to have a very sketchy reputation, and some of these concerns are supported by empirical data, However, the learning environments at the different elementary school are quite different.As an experienced educator and a parent, I am impressed by the leadership of this school, the teachers, and the resulting school environment. Teacher turnover is low and the teachers are dedicated and skilled. The school administration is terrific, invested and responsive. There seems to be an emphasis on reading and writing instruction, with an comprehensive, effective curriculum. that is showing results; this is perhaps a bit less true for math. Regrettably, as is the norm for the region/state/country, science takes a back seat with limited/intermittent instructional time. Parent involvement is reasonable, this could be somewhat better in my opinion, but that's the case almost everywhere IMO.The school has a fair amount of diversity, in terms of SES, ethnicity, racial background, etc. and they are successful in making it a welcoming and supportive setting for kids to learn. I would recommend this school without reservation, and I am very glad my child is a Kingsley Cougar.