Enrollment
328
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fort Dodge, IA
Butler Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Butler Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191182000720
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Butler Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #3 of 4
- elementary schools in Fort Dodge · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 66.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Butler Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Butler Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Fort Dodge, IA.
School address
District: Fort Dodge Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191182000720 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.3:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.2%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+82% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Butler Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Butler Elementary School
Butler Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Fort Dodge, Iowa, enrolling 328 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.3:1, Butler 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: 66.2% of students qualify for free meals, 82% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 328 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 124 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #72.
Its student body is led by White (64%) and Hispanic or Latino (15%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 328 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 20.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Fort Dodge's elementary schools, it stands alongside Duncombe Elementary School (438 students): Butler Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.3:1 vs 13.7:1).
Fort Dodge Comm School District also operates Fort Dodge High School (1,020 students) and Fort Dodge Middle School (765 students) alongside Butler 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 Butler Elementary School compares
Butler 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 | 66.2% | ▲ 82% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 328 | top 46% | - | - |
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.
328
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 82% 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
42.7%
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
$12,309
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 328 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
34
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 63.7%
Hispanic or Latino 15.2%
Two or More 11.9%
African American 7.6%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 63.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.1, Butler 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 Fort Dodge Comm School District, which includes Butler Elementary School.
$12,309
Per student
-4%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.4%
State 48.2%
Federal 20.4%
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 Butler Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dodge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Dodge Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Duncombe Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Early Childhood Center | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cooper Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Butler Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,020
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 765
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 231
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar elementary schools in Fort Dodge
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary 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 (~328 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Butler Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Butler Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Fort Dodge 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 Butler Elementary School
How many students attend Butler Elementary School?
Butler Elementary School has 328 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fort Dodge, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Butler Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Butler 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 Butler Elementary School?
66.2% of students at Butler Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Butler Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Butler Elementary School is White at 63.7% of enrollment, in Fort Dodge, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Butler Elementary School?
Butler Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Butler Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Fort Dodge?
By Resource Investment Index, Butler Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Fort Dodge, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Fort Dodge on the city page.
Is Butler Elementary School a good school?
Butler Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Fort Dodge Comm School District?
Besides Butler Elementary School, Fort Dodge Comm School District also operates Fort Dodge High School (1,020 students), Fort Dodge Middle School (765 students), and Duncombe Elementary School (438 students). See the Fort Dodge 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.