Ames Community School District

Listed by NCES as Ames Comm School District (district ID 1903540)

Public school district · Story County · Iowa · NCES district ID 1903540

Ames Community School District spent $13,278 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 72% of the other Iowa districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $12,583). Its 8 schools enrolled 4,688 students in 2024-25; 35.0% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,699 per student, up 3.2% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 90% (Iowa: 87.5%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Iowa districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Ames Community in enrollment (3,665 to 5,190 students) and Ames Community itself.

Current spending per student, Iowa districts closest in size to Ames Community, FY23Ames Community $13,278; Muscatine Comm $12,759; Urbandale Comm $12,546; Fort Dodge Community $12,486; Marshalltown Community $12,413; Ottumwa Community $12,314; Western Dubuque Community $11,836; Indianola Community $11,822; Bettendorf Community $11,724; Dallas Center-Grimes Comm $11,347; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k11k12k13k14kAmes Community$13,278Muscatine Comm$12,759Urbandale Comm$12,546Fort Dodge Community$12,486Marshalltown Community$12,413Ottumwa Community$12,314Western Dubuque Community$11,836Indianola Community$11,822Bettendorf Community$11,724Dallas Center-Grimes Comm$11,347State median, 1,000+ students $12,583
Current spending per student, Iowa districts closest in size to Ames Community, FY23Ames Community $13,278; Muscatine Comm $12,759; Urbandale Comm $12,546; Fort Dodge Community $12,486; Marshalltown Community $12,413; Ottumwa Community $12,314; Western Dubuque Community $11,836; Indianola Community $11,822; Bettendorf Community $11,724; Dallas Center-Grimes Comm $11,347; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k11k12k13k14kAmes Community$13,278Muscatine Comm$12,759Urbandale Comm$12,546Fort Dodge Community$12,486Marshalltown Community$12,413Ottumwa Community$12,314Western Dubuque Community$11,836Indianola Community$11,822Bettendorf Community$11,724Dallas Center-Grimes Comm$11,347State median, 1,000+ students $12,583
Current spending per student, Iowa districts closest in size to Ames Community, FY23Ames Community $13,278; Muscatine Comm $12,759; Urbandale Comm $12,546; Fort Dodge Community $12,486; Marshalltown Community $12,413; Ottumwa Community $12,314; Western Dubuque Community $11,836; Indianola Community $11,822; Bettendorf Community $11,724; Dallas Center-Grimes Comm $11,347; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k12k14kAmes Community$13,278Muscatine Comm$12,759Urbandale Comm$12,546Fort Dodge Community$12,486Marshalltown Community$12,413Ottumwa Community$12,314Western Dubuque Community$11,836Indianola Community$11,822Bettendorf Community$11,724Dallas Center-Grimes Comm$11,347State median, 1,000+ students $12,583
Current spending per student, Iowa districts closest in size to Ames Community, FY23Ames Community $13,278; Muscatine Comm $12,759; Urbandale Comm $12,546; Fort Dodge Community $12,486; Marshalltown Community $12,413; Ottumwa Community $12,314; Western Dubuque Community $11,836; Indianola Community $11,822; Bettendorf Community $11,724; Dallas Center-Grimes Comm $11,347; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k12k14kAmes Community$13,278Muscatine Comm$12,759Urbandale Comm$12,546Fort Dodge Community$12,486Marshalltown Community$12,413Ottumwa Community$12,314Western Dubuque Community$11,836Indianola Community$11,822Bettendorf Community$11,724Dallas Center-Grimes Comm$11,347State median, 1,000+ students $12,583

Where the money came from

$92,689,000 in revenue: 35.0% state, 59.4% local and 5.7% federal. Total spending including $18,856,000 of capital outlay was $87,007,000, or $18,599 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Ames Community School District revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $32,409,000; Local $55,020,000; Federal $5,260,000; total $92,689,000.
  • State$32,409,000 35%
  • Local$55,020,000 59%
  • Federal$5,260,000 6%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 125 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment held steady from 2022-23 to 2024-25

4,645 students in 2022-23, 4,701 students in 2023-24, 4,688 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Ames Community School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,645, 2023-24: 4,701, 2024-25: 4,68802k4k6k2022-234,6452023-244,7012024-254,688
Ames Community School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,645, 2023-24: 4,701, 2024-25: 4,68802k4k6k2022-234,6452023-244,7012024-254,688
Ames Community School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,645, 2023-24: 4,701, 2024-25: 4,68802k4k6k2022-234,6452023-244,7012024-254,688
Ames Community School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,645, 2023-24: 4,701, 2024-25: 4,68802k4k6k2022-234,6452023-244,7012024-254,688

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-234,645327.414.2
2023-244,701319.114.7
2024-254,688325.014.4

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$24,204,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $5,174 per student

Ames Community School District booked $24,204,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 340 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $71,165 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 88 in 100 Iowa districts with a figure (state median $63,361, 318 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Iowa teacher salary at $59,262 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$16,035,00066.2%
Special education$4,113,00017.0%
Vocational$655,0002.7%
Other programs$3,401,00014.1%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $4,475 in 2018-19, $4,699 in 2019-20, $5,002 in 2020-21, $4,995 in 2021-22, $5,174 in 2022-23.

Ames Community School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,475, 2019-20: $4,699, 2020-21: $5,002, 2021-22: $4,995, 2022-23: $5,17402k4k6k2018-19$4,4752019-20$4,6992020-21$5,0022021-22$4,9952022-23$5,174
Ames Community School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,475, 2019-20: $4,699, 2020-21: $5,002, 2021-22: $4,995, 2022-23: $5,17402k4k6k2018-19$4,4752019-20$4,6992020-21$5,0022021-22$4,9952022-23$5,174
Ames Community School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,475, 2019-20: $4,699, 2020-21: $5,002, 2021-22: $4,995, 2022-23: $5,17402k4k6k2018-19$4,4752019-20$4,6992020-21$5,0022021-22$4,9952022-23$5,174
Ames Community School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,475, 2019-20: $4,699, 2020-21: $5,002, 2021-22: $4,995, 2022-23: $5,17402k4k6k2018-19$4,4752019-20$4,6992020-21$5,0022021-22$4,9952022-23$5,174

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Ames Community School District scored proficient or above: 73% in reading and 70% in math, against 69.7% in reading and 63.8% in math across Iowa. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Iowa, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtIowaStudents tested
Reading and language arts73%69.7%2,875
Math70%63.8%2,907

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

90% of the 327 students in Ames Community School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 87.5% across Iowa. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtIowa
Four-year graduation rate90%87.5%
Students in the class32738,026

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

5 elementary schools, 1,971 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Fellows Elementary School48912.924.1%Not Title I
Edwards Elementary School43613.039.4%Targeted program
Sawyer Elementary School37111.130.7%Schoolwide program
Meeker Elementary School36111.230.2%Schoolwide program
Mitchell Elementary School31412.551.3%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 middle school, 1,033 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Ames Middle School1,03314.826.0%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 high school, 1,440 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Ames High School1,44017.625.5%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 other school, 244 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Northwood Pre-School24422.332.8%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Ames Community School District

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Ames Community School District

  1. Iowa districts by spending per studentAmes Community School District ranks 36 of 125 Iowa districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($13,278).#36 of 125
  2. Every school district in IowaAmes Community School District is the number 21 by size of 328 Iowa districts, with 4,678 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#21 of 328
  3. Muscatine Comm School DistrictThe next larger Iowa district: 4,688 students in fall 2022, $12,759 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,759
  4. Bettendorf Community School DistrictThe next smaller Iowa district: 4,633 students in fall 2022, $11,724 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$11,724
  5. Compare Ames Community School District with Muscatine Comm School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Ames High School, its largest high school1,440 students in 2024-25, 17.6 per teacher.1,440
  7. Teacher salary spending across IowaAmes Community School District spent $71,165 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $63,361); spending, not a salary.$71,165
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Ames Community School District

  1. How many schools and students are in Ames Community School District?
    8 schools were open in 2024-25 (5 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 other), enrolling 4,688 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Ames Community School District spend per student?
    $13,278 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Iowa median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $12,583 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,699 per student, up 3.2% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Ames Community School District's money come from?
    $92,689,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 35.0% state, 59.4% local and 5.7% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Ames Community School District live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 713 of the 5,286 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 13.5%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Ames Community School District spend on teacher salaries?
    $24,204,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $5,174 per student. Divided by the 340 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $71,165 per teacher, more than 88 in 100 Iowa districts (state median $63,361). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Iowa teacher salary at $59,262 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Ames Community School District do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Ames Community School District scored proficient or above: 73% in reading and 70% in math, against 69.7% in reading and 63.8% in math across Iowa. Iowa's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Ames Community School District?
    90% of the 327 students in Ames Community School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 87.5% across Iowa. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Ames Community School District's NCES district ID?
    1903540. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .