- Enrollment
- 1,440
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Ames, IA
Ames Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Ames Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 190354000060
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ames Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #5 of 8
- public schools in Ames · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 26.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Ames Middle School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ames Middle School ranks #5 of 8 public schools in Ames, IA.
School address
District: Ames Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190354000060 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+30 students YoY
Ames Middle School held near 1,032 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+30 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 75.5 → 68.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+30 students YoY 190354000060 · Ames, IA Middle · MID · TRAD
1,033 enr · 13.8:1 · 26.6% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Ames High School (1,440 students)
Ames Middle School held near 1,032 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+30 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 75.5 → 68.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Ames Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ames High Scho
Ames High School
1,440 students
- This school
Ames Middle School
1,033 students
- Fellows Elemen 489
Fellows Elementary School
489 students
- Edwards Elemen 436
Edwards Elementary School
436 students
- Sawyer Element 371
Sawyer Elementary School
371 students
- Meeker Element 361
Meeker Elementary School
361 students
What this shows Ames Middle School reports 1,033 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ames Middle School compares
Ames Middle 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.6% | ▼ 27% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,033 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,033
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 47% in Iowa - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.8%
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
$13,278
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 344 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 201 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.2%
Hispanic or Latino 12.5%
African American 10.0%
Two or More 7.7%
Asian 7.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 62.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.6, Ames Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ames Comm School District reports $13,278 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ames Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fellows Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Edwards Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sawyer Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meeker Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ames Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 489
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 371
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~1,033 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ames Middle School
How many students attend Ames Middle School?
Ames Middle School has 1,033 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Ames, IA. CCD year-over-year: 1,002 (2022-23) → 1,032 (2023-24), nearly flat (+30).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ames Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ames Middle School is 13.8:1, which is 7% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 12% 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 Ames Middle School?
26.6% of students at Ames Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ames Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Ames Middle School is White at 62.2% of enrollment, in Ames, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ames Middle School?
Ames Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Ames Middle School rank among public schools in Ames?
By Resource Investment Index, Ames Middle School ranks #5 of 8 public schools in Ames, 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 Ames on the city page.
What other schools are in Ames Comm School District?
Besides Ames Middle School, Ames Comm School District also operates Ames High School (1,440 students), Fellows Elementary School (489 students), and Edwards Elementary School (436 students). See the Ames Comm School District district page for the complete list.