- Enrollment
- 1,722
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Altoona, IA
Altoona Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Altoona Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 192682001566
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Altoona Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #1 of 4
- schools in Altoona · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 43.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Altoona Elementary has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Altoona Elementary ranks #1 of 4 schools in Altoona, IA.
School address
District: Southeast Polk Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192682001566 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Altoona Elementary held near 423 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 33.8 → 35.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 192682001566 · Altoona, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
429 enr · 13:1 · 43.0% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Southeast Polk High School (1,722 students)
Altoona Elementary held near 423 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 33.8 → 35.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Altoona Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Southeast Polk
Southeast Polk High School
1,722 students
- Spring Creek -
Spring Creek - 6th Grade
1,112 students
- Southeast Polk
Southeast Polk Junior High
1,088 students
- Clay Elementar
Clay Elementary
700 students
- Willowbrook El 523
Willowbrook Elementary
523 students
- This school 429
Altoona Elementary
429 students
What this shows Altoona Elementary reports 429 students on the CCD universe file.
How Altoona Elementary compares
Altoona Elementary 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 | 13:1 | ▼ 12% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.0% | ▲ 18% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 429 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
429
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 35% in Iowa - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
23.1%
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
$12,583
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $13,441
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 429 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.6%
African American 15.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
Two or More 6.8%
Asian 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 64.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.3, Altoona Elementary is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Southeast Polk Comm School District reports $12,583 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Altoona Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Polk High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Spring Creek - 6th Grade | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southeast Polk Junior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clay Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willowbrook Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Altoona Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,112
- Students per teacher
- 32.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 700
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 523
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Altoona
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~429 students)
Frequently asked questions about Altoona Elementary
How many students attend Altoona Elementary?
Altoona Elementary has 429 students enrolled. It is a public school in Altoona, IA. CCD year-over-year: 419 (2022-23) → 423 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Altoona Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Altoona Elementary is 13:1, which is 12% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Altoona Elementary?
43.0% of students at Altoona Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Altoona Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Altoona Elementary is White at 64.6% of enrollment, in Altoona, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Altoona Elementary?
Altoona Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Altoona Elementary rank among schools in Altoona?
By Resource Investment Index, Altoona Elementary ranks #1 of 4 schools in Altoona, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Southeast Polk Comm School District?
Besides Altoona Elementary, Southeast Polk Comm School District also operates Southeast Polk High School (1,722 students), Spring Creek - 6th Grade (1,112 students), and Southeast Polk Junior High (1,088 students). See the Southeast Polk Comm School District district page for the complete list.