W J Zahnow Elem School

www.wcusd5.net

488 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 1st

School Overview

W.J. Zahnow Elementary School, located in Waterloo, Illinois, serves as a foundational institution within the Waterloo Community Unit School District 5. As a primary school, it focuses on the educational and social development of children in their earliest academic years, typically catering to students in kindergarten and first grade. The school is known for its commitment to providing a supportive, child-centered environment that emphasizes early literacy, numeracy, and the cultivation of positive social skills to prepare students for their future schooling.

Beyond its academic curriculum, W.J. Zahnow is integrated into the fabric of the Waterloo community, benefiting from a small-town atmosphere that encourages strong parent-teacher collaboration. The school prioritizes a nurturing culture where educators work to address individual learning needs, helping young students build confidence and a lifelong love of learning. By focusing on the core building blocks of education in a safe and structured setting, the school plays a vital role in setting the academic trajectory for the children of Waterloo.

488

Total Students

32.7

Full-Time Teachers

14.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for W J Zahnow Elem School
Demographic	Student Count
White	458
Hispanic	13
Black	2
Asian	3
Two or More	12

White
458 (93.9 %)
Hispanic
13 (2.7 %)
Two or More
12 (2.5 %)
Asian
3 (0.6 %)
Black
2 (0.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Waterloo CUSD 5
Phone:	(618)939-3458
Website:	http://www.wcusd5.net
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 1st
Total Students:	488
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	32.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 76

Kindergarten 186

Grade 1 226