- Enrollment
- 891
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Mason City, IA
Alternative School
Federal NCES profile for Alternative School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 191878001099
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 76
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alternative School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Iowa schools.
- #5 of 9
- public schools in Mason City · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.2:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 55.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Alternative School has class sizes larger than 90% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative School ranks #5 of 9 public schools in Mason City, IA.
School address
District: Mason City Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191878001099 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Alternative School held near 92 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 5.9 → 5.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 191878001099 · Mason City, IA High · SMALL · TRAD
91 enr · 18.2:1 · 55.3% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Mason City High School (891 students)
Alternative School held near 92 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 5.9 → 5.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Alternative School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mason City Hig
Mason City High School
891 students
- Lincoln Interm
Lincoln Intermediate
485 students
- John Adams Mid
John Adams Middle School
463 students
- Harding Elemen
Harding Elementary School
387 students
- Hoover Element
Hoover Elementary School
361 students
- This school 91
Alternative School
91 students
What this shows Alternative School reports 91 students on the CCD universe file.
How Alternative School compares
Alternative School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.2:1 | ▲ 23% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.3% | ▲ 52% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 91 | top 94% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
91
Bigger than 9% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
55.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 90% in Iowa - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
96.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,852
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.1%
African American 8.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.4%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Two or More 1.1%
Largest group: White at 72.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.6, Alternative School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mason City Comm School District reports $14,852 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Alternative School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Intermediate | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John Adams Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harding Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hoover Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alternative School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 485
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
- Enrollment
- 463
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 387
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar high schools in Mason City
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~91 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Alternative School
How many students attend Alternative School?
Alternative School has 91 students enrolled. It is a high school in Mason City, IA. CCD year-over-year: 94 (2022-23) → 92 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alternative School?
The student-teacher ratio at Alternative School is 18.2:1, which is 23% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 16% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Alternative School?
55.3% of students at Alternative School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alternative School?
The largest demographic group at Alternative School is White at 72.2% of enrollment, in Mason City, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alternative School?
Alternative School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Alternative School rank among public schools in Mason City?
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative School ranks #5 of 9 public schools in Mason City, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Mason City on the city page.
What other schools are in Mason City Comm School District?
Besides Alternative School, Mason City Comm School District also operates Mason City High School (891 students), Lincoln Intermediate (485 students), and John Adams Middle School (463 students). See the Mason City Comm School District district page for the complete list.