- Enrollment
- 495
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Eldon, IA
Cardinal Junior High
Federal NCES profile for Cardinal Junior High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190624002246
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cardinal Junior High earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Iowa schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Eldon · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.4:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 42.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Cardinal Junior High has class sizes larger than 87% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Junior High ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Eldon, IA.
School address
District: Cardinal Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190624002246 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Cardinal Junior High grew from 284 students in 2022-23 to 301 in 2023-24 (+6.0%).
Teacher FTE held 18.6 → 18.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+17 students YoY 190624002246 · Eldon, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
314 enr · 17.4:1 · 42.6% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Cardinal Elementary (495 students)
Cardinal Junior High grew from 284 students in 2022-23 to 301 in 2023-24 (+6.0%). Teacher FTE held 18.6 → 18.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Cardinal Junior High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cardinal Eleme
Cardinal Elementary
495 students
- This school
Cardinal Junior High
314 students
- Cardinal High
Cardinal High School
270 students
What this shows Cardinal Junior High reports 314 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cardinal Junior High compares
Cardinal Junior High is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 18% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.6% | ▲ 17% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 314 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
314
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 87% in Iowa - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.9%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 86.3%
Hispanic or Latino 7.6%
Two or More 4.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
African American 0.6%
Largest group: White at 86.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 24.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 24.7, Cardinal Junior High 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 Junior High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cardinal High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cardinal Junior High'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 elementary 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 (~314 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Junior High
How many students attend Cardinal Junior High?
Cardinal Junior High has 314 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Eldon, IA. CCD year-over-year: 284 (2022-23) → 301 (2023-24), up 17.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Junior High is 17.4:1, which is 18% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cardinal Junior High?
42.6% of students at Cardinal Junior High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cardinal Junior High?
The largest demographic group at Cardinal Junior High is White at 86.3% of enrollment, in Eldon, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cardinal Junior High?
Cardinal Junior High 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 Junior High rank among public schools in Eldon?
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Junior High 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 Junior High, Cardinal Comm School District also operates Cardinal Elementary (495 students) and Cardinal High School (270 students). See the Cardinal Comm School District district page for the complete list.