Can I use Black Hawk County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Black Hawk County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Black Hawk County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Black Hawk County?

Start with the 35 listed public schools and 4 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Black Hawk County Schools & Education

Name: Black Hawk County, Iowa Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Black Hawk County, Iowa

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 92.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,868

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,591

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#67

of 99 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Black Hawk County

Measured School Summary

Black Hawk County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.3%.

Funding Context

At $7,868 per pupil, Black Hawk County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 6% below the Iowa average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Black Hawk County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

35 public schools and 4 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

57/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #67 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.

Completion

90.3%

2.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,868

$277 above the state average

School coverage

4 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Black Hawk County has 35 public schools across 4 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Black Hawk County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Black Hawk County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#67

of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Waterloo Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

10,527 students

Elementary 11Middle 4High 3Other 0

18 listed schools in this county slice.

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

5,884 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 1Other 1

11 listed schools in this county slice.

Hudson Comm School District

Elementary and high visible

866 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Dunkerton Comm School District

Elementary and high visible

414 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Waterloo Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 18 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Black Hawk County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Black Hawk County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Black Hawk County, Iowa

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Iowa's Urban Education Hub

Black Hawk County features a massive educational infrastructure with 35 public schools across four districts. This system serves 18,280 students, including 21 elementary schools, six middle schools, and seven high schools.

Waterloo and Cedar Falls Powerhouse

The Waterloo Community School District is the largest, managing 18 schools and 10,527 students. While the county hosts one alternative school, there are no charter schools, keeping the focus on its robust traditional district offerings.

A Truly Diverse Locale Mix

Uniquely for the region, 25 schools are in city locales, with others in suburbs and rural areas. Schools are much larger here, averaging 522 students, with Waterloo's West High School serving over 1,600 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Black Hawk County

Reported Enrollment

18,280

35 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary21

Middle6

High7

Other1

4 School Districts in Black Hawk County

Waterloo Comm School District

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Hudson Comm School District

2 schools

866 students

Dunkerton Comm School District

2 schools

414 students

35 Public Schools in Black Hawk County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 35 matching schools

Public schools in Black Hawk County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
West High School	Profile	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50702City: Small	9–12	High	1,652
Cedar Falls High School	Profile	Cedar Falls Comm School District	Cedar Falls, 50613City: Small	10–12	High	1,302
East High School	Profile	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50703City: Small	9–12	High	1,022
Hoover Middle School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50701City: Small	6–8	Middle	883
Peet Junior High School	Record	Cedar Falls Comm School District	Cedar Falls, 50613City: Small	7–9	Middle	670
Holmes Junior High School	Record	Cedar Falls Comm School District	Cedar Falls, 50613City: Small	7–9	Middle	639
Kittrell Elementary School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50702City: Small	PK–5	Primary	614
Expo Alternative Learning Center	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50703City: Small	6–12	Alternative	609
Helen A Hansen Elementary School	Record	Cedar Falls Comm School District	Cedar Falls, 50613City: Small	PK–6	Primary	591
Southdale Elementary School	Record	Cedar Falls Comm School District	Cedar Falls, 50613City: Small	PK–6	Primary	530
Hudson Elementary School	Record	Hudson Comm School District	Hudson, 50643Suburb: Midsize	PK–6	Primary	524
Orange Elementary School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50701Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	521
Lowell Elementary School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50702City: Small	PK–5	Primary	513
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary	Record	Cedar Falls Comm School District	Cedar Falls, 50613Rural: Fringe	PK–6	Primary	485
Highland Elementary School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50703City: Small	PK–5	Primary	477
Cedar Heights Elementary School	Record	Cedar Falls Comm School District	Cedar Falls, 50613City: Small	PK–6	Primary	474
Fred Becker Elementary School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50701City: Small	PK–5	Primary	473
Central Middle School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50701City: Small	6–8	Middle	471
Lincoln Elementary School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50703City: Small	PK–5	Primary	471
Lou Henry Elementary School	Record	Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo, 50701City: Small	KG–5	Primary	465

West High School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50702 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,652 students

Cedar Falls High School

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Cedar Falls, 50613 / City: Small

Profile10–12High1,302 students

East High School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50703 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,022 students

Hoover Middle School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50701 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle883 students

Peet Junior High School

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Cedar Falls, 50613 / City: Small

Record7–9Middle670 students

Holmes Junior High School

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Cedar Falls, 50613 / City: Small

Record7–9Middle639 students

Kittrell Elementary School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50702 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary614 students

Expo Alternative Learning Center

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50703 / City: Small

Record6–12Alternative609 students

Helen A Hansen Elementary School

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Cedar Falls, 50613 / City: Small

RecordPK–6Primary591 students

Southdale Elementary School

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Cedar Falls, 50613 / City: Small

RecordPK–6Primary530 students

Hudson Elementary School

Hudson Comm School District

Hudson, 50643 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–6Primary524 students

Orange Elementary School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50701 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary521 students

Lowell Elementary School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50702 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary513 students

Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Cedar Falls, 50613 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary485 students

Highland Elementary School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50703 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary477 students

Cedar Heights Elementary School

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Cedar Falls, 50613 / City: Small

RecordPK–6Primary474 students

Fred Becker Elementary School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50701 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary473 students

Central Middle School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50701 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle471 students

Lincoln Elementary School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50703 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary471 students

Lou Henry Elementary School

Waterloo Comm School District

Waterloo, 50701 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary465 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,868

State avg $7,591

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Black Hawk County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Iowa counties have the highest graduation rates?

Dallas County (97.3%), Clay County (97.0%), and Davis County (97.0%) currently lead Iowa among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Iowa?

Across Iowa counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,591. The highest current county values are Kossuth County ($8,712), Cerro Gordo County ($8,682), and Franklin County ($8,627). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Black Hawk County?

Black Hawk County has a school score of 57/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Black Hawk County?

The high school graduation rate in Black Hawk County is 90.3%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Black Hawk County spend per student?

Black Hawk County spends $7,868 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Black Hawk County, Iowa — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Black Hawk County, Iowa?

What are the major school districts in Black Hawk County, Iowa?

What is the school experience like in Black Hawk County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Mahaska County

Iowa

0 pts

57/100

School score

Pottawattamie County

Iowa

0 pts

57/100

School score

Adair County

Iowa

+1 pts

58/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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