Ames Comm School District

Ames, Iowa — 8 schools

4,678
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$22,143
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ames Comm School District operates 8 public schools serving 4,678 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 4,688 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Story County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,143 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 57.7% local, 34.6% state, and 7.8% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $84,583 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 59/100, ranked #111 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (8 AP courses district-wide), a 316.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 24.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 60.0% White, 13.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% African American across the district's schools.

Ames High School accounts for 30.7% of all Ames Comm School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Ames Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ames Comm School District school enrollment varies 5.9× across entities

Ames Comm School District school enrollment ranges from 244 students (lowest) to 1,440 students (highest), a spread of 1,196 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ames Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 317:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Ames Comm School District is typically wider than the Ames Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ames Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 24.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Ames Comm School District is typically wider than the Ames Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.8%
Federal
34.6%
State
57.7%
Local

Funding Equity

59
Equity Score
111 / 303
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Story County county, where this district is located.

$972
Studio/mo
$1,026
1 BR/mo
$1,153
2 BR/mo
$1,601
3 BR/mo
$1,934
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$84,583
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in Ames Comm School District.

White 60.0%
Hispanic or Latino 13.5%
African American 10.9%
Asian 7.8%
Multiracial 7.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
8 AP courses total
316.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ames Comm School District

School Enrollment
Ames High School
1,440
Ames Middle School
1,033
Fellows Elementary School
489
Edwards Elementary School
436
Sawyer Elementary School
371
Meeker Elementary School
361
Mitchell Elementary School
314
Northwood Pre-School
244

Nearby Districts in Iowa

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Cedar Rapids Comm School District
15,564 students · 33 schools · $17,848/pupil
Compare vs Ames Comm School District →
Sioux City Comm School District
14,989 students · 22 schools · $13,518/pupil
Compare vs Ames Comm School District →
Iowa City Comm School District
14,805 students · 29 schools · $16,397/pupil
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Davenport Comm School District
14,135 students · 30 schools · $14,427/pupil
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Compare Ames Comm School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Des Moines Independent Comm School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ames Comm School District?

Ames Comm School District has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 5 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 4,678 students.

How much does Ames Comm School District spend per student?

Ames Comm School District spends $22,143 per student. The district has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #111 in Iowa.

What is the average teacher salary in Ames Comm School District?

The average teacher salary in Ames Comm School District is $84,583 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Ames Comm School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Story County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Ames Comm School District?

Ames Comm School District students are 60.0% White, 13.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% African American, 7.8% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ames Comm School District?

Ames Comm School District has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #111 out of 303 districts in Iowa. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

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