- Enrollment
- 1,722
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Altoona, IA
Clay Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Clay Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 192682001168
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Clay Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Altoona · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.9:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 26.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Clay Elementary has class sizes larger than 92% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Clay Elementary ranks #3 of 4 schools in Altoona, IA.
School address
District: Southeast Polk Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192682001168 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Clay Elementary held near 670 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 40.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 192682001168 · Altoona, IA Other · MID · TRAD
700 enr · 18.9:1 · 26.3% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Southeast Polk High School (1,722 students)
Clay Elementary held near 670 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 40.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Clay Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Southeast Polk
Southeast Polk High School
1,722 students
- Spring Creek -
Spring Creek - 6th Grade
1,112 students
- Southeast Polk
Southeast Polk Junior High
1,088 students
- This school
Clay Elementary
700 students
- Willowbrook El 523
Willowbrook Elementary
523 students
- Four Mile Elem 495
Four Mile Elementary
495 students
What this shows Clay Elementary reports 700 students on the CCD universe file.
How Clay Elementary compares
Clay 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 | 18.9:1 | ▲ 28% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.3% | ▼ 28% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 700 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.9:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
700
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.9:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 92% in Iowa - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,583
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 700 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.4%
Hispanic or Latino 14.9%
African American 14.0%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 3.1%
Largest group: White at 60.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.7, Clay Elementary is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Southeast Polk Comm School District reports $12,583 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Clay Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Polk High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Spring Creek - 6th Grade | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southeast Polk Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Willowbrook Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Four Mile Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Clay Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,112
- Students per teacher
- 32.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 523
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 495
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Altoona
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~700 students)
Frequently asked questions about Clay Elementary
How many students attend Clay Elementary?
Clay Elementary has 700 students enrolled. It is a public school in Altoona, IA. CCD year-over-year: 657 (2022-23) → 670 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Clay Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Clay Elementary is 18.9:1, which is 28% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Clay Elementary?
26.3% of students at Clay Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Clay Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Clay Elementary is White at 60.4% of enrollment, in Altoona, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Clay Elementary?
Clay Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Clay Elementary rank among schools in Altoona?
By Resource Investment Index, Clay Elementary ranks #3 of 4 schools in Altoona, 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 Southeast Polk Comm School District?
Besides Clay Elementary, Southeast Polk Comm School District also operates Southeast Polk High School (1,722 students), Spring Creek - 6th Grade (1,112 students), and Southeast Polk Junior High (1,088 students). See the Southeast Polk Comm School District district page for the complete list.