Enrollment
372
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Clinton, IA
Bluff Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Bluff Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 190771000597
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bluff Elementary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools.
- #2 of 6
- public schools in Clinton · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 62.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Bluff Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bluff Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Clinton, IA.
School address
District: Clinton Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190771000597 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.3:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.9%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+73% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Bluff Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Bluff Elementary School
Bluff Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Clinton, Iowa, enrolling 372 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.3:1, Bluff Elementary School is leaner than roughly 85% of Iowa schools and 24% under the state's 14.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 62.9% of students qualify for free meals, 73% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 372 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 148 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #52.
Its student body is led by White (66%) and Two or More (15%) (diversity index 53/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 372 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Clinton's public schools, it stands alongside Eagle Heights Elementary School (443 students): Bluff Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.3:1 vs 12:1).
Clinton Comm School District also operates Clinton High School (981 students) and Clinton Middle School (745 students) alongside Bluff Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Bluff Elementary School compares
Bluff Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.3:1 | ▼ 24% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.9% | ▲ 73% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 372 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
372
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% 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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 15% in Iowa - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.1%
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
$12,866
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $12,854
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 372 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 65.6%
Two or More 14.8%
African American 9.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 65.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.9, Bluff Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Clinton Comm School District, which includes Bluff Elementary School.
$12,866
Per student
+0%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.0%
State 58.7%
Federal 12.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Bluff Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clinton Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eagle Heights Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Whittier Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bluff Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 981
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 745
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 443
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 331
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Clinton
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~372 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Bluff Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Bluff Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Clinton Comm School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Bluff Elementary School
How many students attend Bluff Elementary School?
Bluff Elementary School has 372 students enrolled. It is a public school in Clinton, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bluff Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bluff Elementary School is 11.3:1, which is 24% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 28% 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 Bluff Elementary School?
62.9% of students at Bluff Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bluff Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Bluff Elementary School is White at 65.6% of enrollment, in Clinton, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bluff Elementary School?
Bluff Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bluff Elementary School rank among public schools in Clinton?
By Resource Investment Index, Bluff Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Clinton, 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 Clinton on the city page.
Is Bluff Elementary School a good school?
Bluff Elementary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Clinton Comm School District?
Besides Bluff Elementary School, Clinton Comm School District also operates Clinton High School (981 students), Clinton Middle School (745 students), and Eagle Heights Elementary School (443 students). See the Clinton Comm School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.