- Enrollment
- 372
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chariton, IA
Columbus Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Columbus Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190705000315
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbus Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Chariton · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 51.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Columbus Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Columbus Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Chariton, IA.
School address
District: Chariton Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190705000315 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Columbus Elementary School grew from 284 students in 2022-23 to 309 in 2023-24 (+8.8%).
Teacher FTE added 20.4 → 21.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+25 students YoY 190705000315 · Chariton, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
301 enr · 15.1:1 · 51.8% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Chariton High School (372 students)
Columbus Elementary School grew from 284 students in 2022-23 to 309 in 2023-24 (+8.8%). Teacher FTE added 20.4 → 21.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Columbus Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Chariton High
Chariton High School
372 students
- This school
Columbus Elementary School
301 students
- Van Allen Elem
Van Allen Elementary School
292 students
- Chariton Middl
Chariton Middle School
284 students
What this shows Columbus Elementary School reports 301 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbus Elementary School compares
Columbus Elementary School 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 | 15.1:1 | ▲ 2% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.8% | ▲ 42% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 301 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
301
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 67% in Iowa - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.6%
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
$12,441
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 301 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 89.7%
Hispanic or Latino 8.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Two or More 0.7%
African American 0.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 89.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.8, Columbus Elementary School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
District finance for Chariton Comm School District reports $12,441 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbus Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chariton High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Van Allen Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chariton Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbus Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 292
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 284
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Chariton
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~301 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbus Elementary School
How many students attend Columbus Elementary School?
Columbus Elementary School has 301 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chariton, IA. CCD year-over-year: 284 (2022-23) → 309 (2023-24), up 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbus Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbus Elementary School is 15.1:1, which is 2% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbus Elementary School?
51.8% of students at Columbus Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbus Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Columbus Elementary School is White at 89.7% of enrollment, in Chariton, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbus Elementary School?
Columbus Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Columbus Elementary School rank among public schools in Chariton?
By Resource Investment Index, Columbus Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Chariton, 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 Chariton Comm School District?
Besides Columbus Elementary School, Chariton Comm School District also operates Chariton High School (372 students), Van Allen Elementary School (292 students), and Chariton Middle School (284 students). See the Chariton Comm School District district page for the complete list.