W Orange
Waterloo, IA 50701

this school is horrid, in my opinion. all of the students act like wild animals and are not very intelligent, i feel so unmotivated to learn, a lot of the staff are quite rude, and they don't do anything about situations. my friends little brother was getting beat up by the 6th graders and the school officer there said that they were "play fighting", when it was obvious that he was screaming in agony. a lot of teachers aren't very supportive and very rude, especially with kids who have adhd or slight autism. the school is also disgusting, which i understand for it is very old, but they don't bother to clean it. two of the stall walls in the 7th grade bathroom were ripped off by the kids there and it took about 2 weeks for them to put one back up. overall, my experience here has been a nightmare, with all the disgusting children with no manners, self respect, or personal space.

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.

Born and raised in Waterloo, Currently 21. Went to Kittrell, Orange, Hoover middle, West High, Hawkeye CC, and currently University of Northern Iowa. West High school will more than prepare your child for their future. They offer a excellent education in whatever your child may seek interest in, as well as superb sports teams. They as well have a detached Career Center building where your child can earn college credits and save money in the process. Teachers are amazing and your child will love it. As my classmates and i did. Police officers keep the peace, multiple counselors and Principals so your children will always be heard. AP classes and more available.