- Enrollment
- 495
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Eldon, IA
Cardinal High School
Federal NCES profile for Cardinal High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 190624000211
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cardinal High School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Eldon · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 42.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Cardinal High School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal High School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Eldon, IA.
School address
District: Cardinal Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190624000211 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Cardinal High School held near 277 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 21.4 → 22.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 190624000211 · Eldon, IA High · SMALL · TRAD
270 enr · 12.9:1 · 42.8% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Cardinal Elementary (495 students)
Cardinal High School held near 277 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 21.4 → 22.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Cardinal High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cardinal Eleme
Cardinal Elementary
495 students
- Cardinal Junio
Cardinal Junior High
314 students
- This school
Cardinal High School
270 students
What this shows Cardinal High School reports 270 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cardinal High School compares
Cardinal High 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 13% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.8% | ▲ 18% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 270 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
270
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.8%
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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 34% in Iowa - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
17.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.6%
Two or More 2.2%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 91.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.9, Cardinal High School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
AP program Not offered
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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cardinal Junior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cardinal High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 314
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Nationwide high 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 (~270 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cardinal High School
How many students attend Cardinal High School?
Cardinal High School has 270 students enrolled. It is a high school in Eldon, IA. CCD year-over-year: 276 (2022-23) → 277 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal High School is 12.9:1, which is 13% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 18% 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 High School?
42.8% of students at Cardinal High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cardinal High School?
The largest demographic group at Cardinal High School is White at 91.5% of enrollment, in Eldon, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cardinal High School?
Cardinal High School has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cardinal High School rank among public schools in Eldon?
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal High School ranks #1 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 High School, Cardinal Comm School District also operates Cardinal Elementary (495 students) and Cardinal Junior High (314 students). See the Cardinal Comm School District district page for the complete list.