Best Schools in Black Hawk County, IA
Black Hawk County, IA has 68 public schools (15 high, 11 middle, 39 elementary) serving 27,330 students. On average they score 74% on state proficiency tests against a projected 57%, so schools in Black Hawk County exceed expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Black Hawk County, IA
The top high schools in Black Hawk County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Denver Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Denver Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 262 Students
2. Janesville Junior-senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Janesville Consolidated School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 237 Students
3. Waverly-shell Rock Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waverly-shell Rock Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 771 Students
4. Dike-new Hartford High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dike-new Hartford Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 267 Students
5. Hudson High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hudson Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 342 Students
6. Vinton-shellsburg High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Vinton-shellsburg Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 425 Students
7. Cedar Falls High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cedar Falls Comm School District • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 1302 Students
8. Jesup High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jesup Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 278 Students
9. Union High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Union Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 316 Students
10. Gladbrook-reinbeck Jr. High & High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gladbrook-reinbeck Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 212 Students
Best Middle Schools in Black Hawk County, IA
The top middle schools in Black Hawk County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Denver Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Denver Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 207 Students
2. Dike-new Hartford Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dike-new Hartford Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 215 Students
3. Holmes Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cedar Falls Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 9 • 639 Students
4. Union Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Union Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 201 Students
5. Peet Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cedar Falls Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 9 • 670 Students
6. Vinton-shellsburg Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Vinton-shellsburg Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 318 Students
7. Waverly-shell Rock Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waverly-shell Rock Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 699 Students
8. Hoover Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waterloo Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 883 Students
9. Bunger Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waterloo Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 431 Students
10. George Washington Carver Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waterloo Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 442 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Black Hawk County, IA
The top elementary schools in Black Hawk County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. K-5 Elementary School Lincoln Street Building
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Denver Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 467 Students
2. Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cedar Falls Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 485 Students
3. Helen A Hansen Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cedar Falls Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 591 Students
4. Dike Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dike-new Hartford Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 312 Students
5. Jesup Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jesup Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 438 Students
6. Shell Rock Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waverly-shell Rock Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 172 Students
7. Dysart-geneseo Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Union Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 218 Students
8. New Hartford Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dike-new Hartford Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 151 Students
9. Lincoln Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cedar Falls Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 453 Students
10. Tilford Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Vinton-shellsburg Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 578 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Black Hawk County, IA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Black Hawk County, IA has a total population of 131,144 with 27% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 93%, and 32% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Black Hawk County, IA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Black Hawk County, IA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
22.39 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.00 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
18.39 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Black Hawk County, IA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Black Hawk County, IA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Black Hawk County, IA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Black Hawk County, IA
How many schools are in Black Hawk County, IA?
Black Hawk County, IA has 68 public schools: 15 high schools, 11 middle schools and 39 elementary schools, serving 27,330 students in total.
How do schools in Black Hawk County perform on state tests?
On average, 68 schools in Black Hawk County score 74% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 57%, so on average schools in Black Hawk County exceed expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Black Hawk County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Black Hawk County, IA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 75%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 78%
- Projected: 65%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 75%
- Projected: 63%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 77%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 73%
- Projected: 60%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 77%
- Projected: 68%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 68%
- Projected: 59%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 68%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 74%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 71%
- Projected: 57%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Black Hawk County
6 places in Black Hawk County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (6)
- Waterloo (16)
- Cedar Falls (11)
- Dunkerton (2)
- Evansdale (2)
- Hudson (2)
- La Porte City (2)
School districts (3)
- Waterloo Comm School District (18 schools)
- Cedar Falls Comm School District (11 schools)
- Union Comm School District (4 schools)