Waterloo Schools share new feeder structure and attendance boundaries

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Major changes are coming to the Waterloo school district ahead of the opening of United High School in 2028.

The school board has approved a new structure for its feeder system.

School changes and updated feeder structure

Starting in 2028, All 10th through 12th graders will attend Waterloo United High School.

The current East and West high schools will become junior highs for 8th and 9th graders.

Bunger, Carver, and Hoover will remain middle schools for 6th and 7th grade. Students from Bunger and Carver will go on to East for junior high, and kids at Hoover will attend West.

Elementary schools will continue to serve K-5.

- Cunningham and Lincoln students will go to Carver for middle school.

- Highland and Poyner students will go to Bunger middle school.

- Irving, Kingsley, Kittrell, Lou Henry and Orange students will go to Hoover middle school.

- Becker students will be split between Carver and Hoover.

- Lowell students will be split between Bunger and Hoover.

Attendance boundaries

With the changes to the feeder structure also mean boundary changes impacting Becker and Orange elementary schools. Waterloo Schools shared maps of those changes.

Superintendent Jared Smith also says less than the 589 affected students will need to change schools because of the district’s grandfathering option.

“Our top priority throughout this process was keeping kids together with their classmates and keeping students at schools close to home whenever possible,” said Waterloo Schools Superintendent Dr. Jared Smith. “With our generous grandfathering provisions, families currently enrolled in affected elementary schools—such as Becker and Orange—can choose to remain at their current school, ensuring a smooth transition for our students.”

In addition, the district says families impacted by the boundary changes will be added to the bus route for their new school.

No other boundary changes are planned for 2028-29, the school board shared.

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