Glidden-Ralston Comm School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Glidden, Iowa - 2 schools

An equity score of 39/100 ranks Glidden-Ralston Comm School District #207 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,161 per pupil, Glidden-Ralston Comm School District ranks #193 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

386
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$12,161
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Glidden-Ralston Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 386 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Carroll County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,161 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending. See how Iowa compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 50.9% local, 39.2% state, and 9.9% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 39/100, ranked #207 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 16.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 94.3% White, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Glidden-Ralston Elementary School, enrolling 227 students (58% of the district's total enrollment).

Glidden-Ralston Elementary School accounts for 58.2% of all Glidden-Ralston Comm School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Glidden-Ralston Comm School District a distant remainder — means Glidden-Ralston Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

Glidden-Ralston Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 16.5% — 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 Glidden-Ralston Comm School District is typically wider than the Glidden-Ralston 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?

9.9%
Federal
39.2%
State
50.9%
Local

Funding Equity

39
Equity Score
207 / 303
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Glidden-Ralston Comm School District.

White 94.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%
African American 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

16.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Glidden-Ralston Comm School District

School Enrollment
Glidden-Ralston Elementary School
227
Glidden-Ralston Jr-Sr High School
163

How Glidden-Ralston Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Colo-Nesco Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Tripoli Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Moravia Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Winfield-Mt Union Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Glidden-Ralston Comm School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Iowa

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

Compare Glidden-Ralston Comm School District

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Compare vs Des Moines Independent Comm School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Glidden-Ralston Comm School District?

Glidden-Ralston Comm School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 386 students.

How much does Glidden-Ralston Comm School District spend per student?

Glidden-Ralston Comm School District spends $12,161 per student. The district has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #207 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Glidden-Ralston Comm School District?

Glidden-Ralston Comm School District students are 94.3% White, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Glidden-Ralston Comm School District?

Glidden-Ralston Comm School District has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #207 out of 303 districts in Iowa.