- Enrollment
- 314
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Eldon, IA
Cardinal Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cardinal Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 190624001975
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 1
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cardinal Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Eldon · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 58.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Cardinal Elementary has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Eldon, IA.
School address
District: Cardinal Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190624001975 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Cardinal Elementary held near 529 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 36.7 → 34.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 190624001975 · Eldon, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
495 enr · 13.8:1 · 58.8% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Cardinal Junior High (314 students)
Cardinal Elementary held near 529 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 36.7 → 34.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Cardinal Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Cardinal Elementary
495 students
- Cardinal Junio
Cardinal Junior High
314 students
- Cardinal High
Cardinal High School
270 students
What this shows Cardinal Elementary reports 495 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cardinal Elementary compares
Cardinal 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.8% | ▲ 62% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 495 | top 20% | - | - |
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.
495
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% 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
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
9.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$12,118
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 495 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
Two or More 3.2%
African American 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 88.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.6, Cardinal Elementary is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cardinal Comm School District reports $12,118 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cardinal Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Junior High | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cardinal High School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cardinal Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 270
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
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 (~495 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Elementary
How many students attend Cardinal Elementary?
Cardinal Elementary has 495 students enrolled. It is a public school in Eldon, IA. CCD year-over-year: 514 (2022-23) → 529 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Elementary 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 Cardinal Elementary?
58.8% of students at Cardinal Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cardinal Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cardinal Elementary is White at 88.7% of enrollment, in Eldon, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cardinal Elementary?
Cardinal Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Cardinal Elementary rank among public schools in Eldon?
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Eldon, 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 Cardinal Comm School District?
Besides Cardinal Elementary, Cardinal Comm School District also operates Cardinal Junior High (314 students) and Cardinal High School (270 students). See the Cardinal Comm School District district page for the complete list.