B+
Above Average
81/100

Waterloo Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 5940 Waterloo Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
Overall
B+
81/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
A+
1.5 grade levels above the U.S. average · 87th percentile in Maryland
Growth
C+
Students gain 0.92 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 42nd percentile
Resources
A+
Class size, funding, school size and type

📚 Top 15% in Maryland for achievement

Each score is graded separately against Maryland schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

81
Repit Score
out of 100
626
Students
enrolled
12.2:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$21K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%87/1001.5 grade levels above the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%42/100Students gain 0.92 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 1.03 in 2009–19; 33rd percentile in Maryland (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%96/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 25% students directly certified for free meals (their families receive SNAP or similar aid). Compared with Maryland schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +13 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in Maryland. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency64% (+20 pts vs. state avg 44%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency58% (+21 pts vs. state avg 37%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the Maryland state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White67%72%reading +8 pts, math +15 pts77th percentile (list)
Black47%32%reading +17 pts, math +9 pts78th percentile (list)
Asian82%87%reading +8 pts, math +10 pts74th percentile (list)
Multiracial70%50%reading +19 pts, math +4 pts69th percentile (list)
Low-income42%27%reading +16 pts, math +5 pts76th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 5940 Waterloo Rd
City Columbia
ZIP Code 21045
District 2400420
NCES School ID 240042000758
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 21045

Understanding the community around Waterloo Elementary helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $115,134
Per Capita Income $51,768
Poverty Rate 5.2%
Households Earning $100K+ 58.4%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 58.2%
High School or Higher 93.7%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $420,400
Median Rent $1,602
Owner-Occupied 70.1%
Renter-Occupied 29.9%
View full data for ZIP 21045 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 21045 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 21045 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Waterloo Elementary.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 52.6%
Female 47.4%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 35.0%
Black 28.8%
Hispanic/Latino 14.1%
Asian 15.0%
Two or More Races 7.0%
American Indian 0.2%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 626
Teachers (FTE) 51.2
Student:Teacher Ratio 12.2:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Waterloo Elementary?
Waterloo Elementary has a Repit School Score of 81 out of 100, earning a grade of B+. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Waterloo Elementary?
Waterloo Elementary has 626 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1.
What grades does Waterloo Elementary serve?
Waterloo Elementary serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does Waterloo Elementary receive per student?
Waterloo Elementary receives $20,893 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Waterloo Elementary in 21045 ▼
Avg Home Value
$488,441
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,308
1-Year Change
+1.8%
% Renters
29.9%

Other Schools in 21045

View all schools and real estate data for 21045 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026