Melcher-Dallas 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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Melcher-Dallas, Iowa - 2 schools

An equity score of 56/100 ranks Melcher-Dallas Comm School District #134 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,042 per pupil, Melcher-Dallas Comm School District ranks #155 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

330
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$13,042
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 330 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 Marion County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,042 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending. See how Iowa compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 45.9% local, 44.7% state, and 9.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 56/100, ranked #134 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 29.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 97.1% White, 1.6% African American, 0.3% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Melcher-Dallas Elem, enrolling 157 students (51% of the district's total enrollment).

Melcher-Dallas Elem accounts for 47.6% of all Melcher-Dallas Comm School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Melcher-Dallas Comm School District a distant remainder — means Melcher-Dallas Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 29.7% — 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 Melcher-Dallas Comm School District is typically wider than the Melcher-Dallas Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

9.4%
Federal
44.7%
State
45.9%
Local

Funding Equity

56
Equity Score
134 / 303
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Melcher-Dallas Comm School District.

White 97.1%
African American 1.6%
Multiracial 0.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

29.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Melcher-Dallas Comm School District

School Enrollment
Melcher-Dallas Elem
157
Melcher-Dallas High School
151

How Melcher-Dallas Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Eastern Allamakee Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Harris-Lake Park Comm School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
North Union Comm School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Keota Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
West Central Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Melcher-Dallas 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.

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Melcher-Dallas 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 Melcher-Dallas Comm School District?

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 330 students.

How much does Melcher-Dallas Comm School District spend per student?

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District spends $13,042 per student. The district has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #134 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Melcher-Dallas Comm School District?

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District students are 97.1% White, 1.6% African American, 0.3% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Melcher-Dallas Comm School District?

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #134 out of 303 districts in Iowa.