DISTRICT REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR:
- PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION FOR 2025-26: NOW CLOSED
- NEW STUDENTS FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR:
NEW STUDENTS FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR:
Students entering K-12 for 2025-26: Any student that did not end the 2024-25 school year with the Waterloo Schools. Click here to start registration: 2025-26 Registration - 2025-26 REGISTRATION FOR CURRENT WATERLOO SCHOOLS K-12 STUDENTS:
Annual Updates/Registration will open on July 10, 2025. Please make sure your email and address information is up to date with your school, so that you receive all communication sent out for this.
2025-26 DISTRICT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
ALL RETURNING STUDENTS
Students who ended the 2024-25 school year in a Waterloo School, those who have been approved for Preschool and those who have already completed Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-26 school year, will need to complete an Annual Update.
Annual updates for current Waterloo Schools Students will start July 10 and run through July 25, 2025.
CLICK HERE: https://waterlooia.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/waterloo.jsp
Once you are logged in, click “More” under the Message Center, then “Online Registration”.
All returning students must register and provide current proof of address. Acceptable forms for proof of address: current utility, water or cable bill; lease agreement or new home purchase agreement, paystub or DHS approval letter.
It is important that you complete this as soon as possible. Completing Annual Updates help us with busing, change of address, emergency contacts, required annual forms, new health information, etc.
NEW TO THE DISTRICT FOR 2025-26
If your child/ren did not finish the 2024-25 school year in any of our Waterloo Schools
CLICK HERE to register: https://waterlooia.infinitecampus.org/campus/OLRLoginKiosk/waterloo?configGroupID=31
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Children who are five years old on or before September 15 are eligible for Kindergarten starting with the 2025-26 school year. Registration needs to be done by the legal parent/guardian.
CLICK HERE to register:
https://waterlooia.infinitecampus.org/campus/OLRLoginKiosk/waterloo?configGroupID=31
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS
All elementary students and their families are welcome to visit their school between 4:30-6:00 pm on August 21. This is a great time to find classrooms, drop off supplies, and meet new friends!
Incoming 6th-grade students and any new-to-the-district middle school students are invited to an open house at their home middle school on August 21 from 5:30-7:00 pm.
ORIENTATION
East, West, & EXPO ALC will hold 9th-grade orientation on Monday, August 25.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
The first few days of school will be a rolling start, similar to last year, and include 2-hour early dismissals.
- Monday, August 25, for grades: K, 1, 2, 6, 9 *2-hour early dismissal
- Tuesday, August 26, for grades: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 (in addition to K-2, 6, 9) *2-hour early dismissal
- Thursday, August 28, First day for PreK
SCHOOL TIMES
Elementary (including Cunningham): 8:45am – 3:45pm
Middle & High Schools: 7:45am – 2:45pm
PreK: Monday-Thursday: 9:00am – 3:30pm
IMMUNIZATIONS
Iowa Vaccine Law Requirement
Vaccination Requirements for students in grades 7 and 12:
7th Grade:
Students entering 7th grade are required to have a minimum of one dose of TDap and Meningitis vaccines to attend school. If a child has not had a Meningitis vaccination after the age of ten years, they will be unable to go to school until after the dose is given or a medical/religious exemption is obtained.
12th Grade:
Students entering 12th grade are required to have a minimum of two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (A,C,W,Y); or 1 dose if the student previously received a dose at sixteen years of age or older. There is no provisional period to implement this requirement, meaning students will be sent home on the first day of school until after the dose is given or a medical/religious exemption is obtained.
You may call your medical provider or visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website at: https://idph.iowa.gov/immtb/immunization/laws for more information on Iowa immunization laws and the meningococcal requirement.
Please contact your medical provider now to set up an appointment to get your child immunized. Medical and religious exemptions must be on file with your child’s school (they must be done yearly).
FEE WAIVER POLICY
There are no standard instructional fees for students based on Board policy. However, there may be costs associated with instrument rental if your child enrolls in one of those classes. Students will be notified by their teacher and given the appropriate fee waiver form for those who qualify.
There will continue to be fees for lost books, ID cards, yearbooks, parking, etc. that apply to various schools. These fees are not subject to Fee Waiver.
BUSSING
Bus routes should be available for parents to view on their Parent Portal by August 20, 2025. You will need to have registration completed by July 25, 2025, to assist in your child having a route by the first day of school.
DISCRETIONARY TRANSPORTATION
Under authority of Chapter 285 of the Code of Iowa, the Waterloo Community School District will provide transportation, or reimburse parents for all high school students residing more than three (3) miles from their designated high school; all middle school students residing more than two (2) miles from their designated attendance center; and all elementary students residing more than one (1) mile from their assigned attendance center.
Students who live under the above guidelines may apply for discretionary busing. Consideration will be based on space availability on the bus, on a regularly scheduled stop, and on a regularly scheduled route. Applications will be available beginning July 1st of the upcoming school year and approved in the order they are received. Discretionary forms are available on the WCSD website www.waterlooschools.org under “Bus Transportation”.
Students on a Voluntary Transfer do not have the option to apply or receive a discretionary route/stop. Your application will automatically be denied.
Discretionary transportation will not be available for at least the first month of school. During the school year, any request for transportation on a discretionary basis will require a minimum of 3 days for processing. This will provide time for the transportation staff to determine space availability on existing bus routes.
Please review the district transportation handbook on the WCSD website www.waterlooschools.org for more guidelines.
SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST (2025-26)
| Elementary School | English | Spanish | Bosnian | Burmese | French | Marshallese |
| Middle School | English | Spanish | Bosnian | Burmese | French | Marshallese |
DRESS CODE UPDATE
Follow the link for the board-approved dress code for students: https://www.waterlooschools.org/studentservices/standardized-dress-code/
LUNCH PROGRAM
All students enrolled in the Waterloo Community School District are eligible for a healthy breakfast and healthy lunch at NO CHARGE to your household each day of the school year.
ALL WATERLOO SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE FREE LUNCHES FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR!
The Waterloo Community School District is participating in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in all elementary, middle, and high school buildings. The school district meets the reimbursement formula to qualify for no-cost breakfast and lunch. Pre-K students will also be offered an afternoon no-cost snack.
Please note:
Families will still be responsible for a la carte items, such as extra milk, extra entrées, and extra side items.
FEES
There are no standard instructional fees.
There will continue to be fees for lost books, ID cards, yearbooks. parking, etc. that apply to various schools. These fees are not subject to the Fee Waiver.
The school district operates a lunch and breakfast program. Students may bring their own lunches to school or they are eligible for free school lunch, including milk. Students with cold lunch brought from home, if they wish, may purchase milk for $.50. We do not participate in the free milk program. Students are not permitted to leave the building during lunchtime.
FOOD BROUGHT TO SCHOOL FROM HOME OR BY PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Food brought to school should adhere to district nutritional standards and should not be of minimal nutritional value. Parents/guardians are asked to only send items that will make positive contributions to a child’s diet and health. All food items, including those sent for class distribution (parties, birthdays, etc.) will be handled in accordance with the Regulation for Food Safety in Schools.
When a parent requests to have lunch with their student and it includes outside food (restaurant-prepared food), a place will be provided to have lunch. If bringing prepared food becomes a problem, each situation will be dealt with on an individual basis.
STUDENT LUNCH BALANCES CARRIED OVER
The monies that are currently in your student’s lunch account will remain there. The money can be used for extra milk or ala carte items at the middle and high school levels. If you would like a refund of the lunch monies in your child’s lunch account, please call (319)433-2037 or email [email protected]. A refund will be processed.
NEGATIVE LUNCH BALANCES
Students who have negative balances from prior school years will continue to have a negative lunch balance. Even though your child is eligible for free lunch meals this year, you are still responsible for the meals served in prior years. Please make payments at your child’s school building either to the lunch associate or the main school office. Payments for negative balances can also be mailed to the WCS Food Service Office, 1516 Washington Street, Waterloo, IA 50702.
