Waterloo Schools Named Iowa’s Top School District Employer by Forbes

Teaching is a tough gig. My family is full of retired educators.

My grandfather was a principal for many years. My mom and dad taught, and I have an aunt who's a retired teacher as well.

While the educators and student body define a school, there's a lot more that goes into education.

Now, Waterloo Schools have picked up a huge honor from the folks at Forbes.

Waterloo Schools: A Top Place to Work in Iowa

Waterloo Schools has been recognized as one of the best places to work in Iowa, earning the top spot among school districts statewide in Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Employers.

The Waterloo Community School District ranked No. 7 overall in Iowa, the highest placement for any K-12 district in the state.

It also landed in the Top 10 across all employers in Iowa, alongside universities, corporations, and other major organizations.

How Forbes Arrived at Their Findings

Forbes compiled its rankings with research partner Statista, surveying more than 160,000 employees at companies and organizations with at least 500 workers.

Respondents rated their employers based on workplace culture, pay, opportunities for advancement, and how leadership addressed key issues

Who Else in Iowa Made the List?

In total, about 1,400 organizations made the 2025 list, which is broken down by state. Waterloo Schools outperformed several large Iowa districts, including Ankeny (#11), Davenport (#14), Iowa City (#21), and Linn-Mar (#26).

Iowa State University was the highest-rated Iowa-based employer overall, coming in at No. 3.

More About the Waterloo School District

Waterloo employs about 1,700 staff members, with more than 20 percent identifying as minorities, making it one of the most diverse workforces of any employer in the state.

District leaders say that diversity mirrors the community it serves and strengthens its mission to provide inclusive learning opportunities.

The recognition comes as Waterloo Schools also posts some of the highest student test score growth among Iowa’s urban districts, a combination leaders say reflects both cultural and academic progress.

A nice honor, for sure.

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