- Enrollment
- 1,020
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fort Dodge, IA
Cooper Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cooper Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191182000721
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cooper Elementary School earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Iowa schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Fort Dodge · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 37.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Cooper Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 87% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cooper Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Fort Dodge, IA.
School address
District: Fort Dodge Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191182000721 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Cooper Elementary School shrank from 252 students in 2022-23 to 238 in 2023-24 (-5.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 18.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-14 students YoY 191182000721 · Fort Dodge, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
231 enr · 11:1 · 37.3% lunch · RII 61
Nearest enrollment peer: Fort Dodge High School (1,020 students)
Cooper Elementary School shrank from 252 students in 2022-23 to 238 in 2023-24 (-5.6%). Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 18.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Cooper Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fort Dodge Hig
Fort Dodge High School
1,020 students
- Fort Dodge Mid
Fort Dodge Middle School
765 students
- Duncombe Eleme
Duncombe Elementary School
438 students
- Early Childhoo 376
Early Childhood Center
376 students
- Butler Element 328
Butler Elementary School
328 students
- This school 231
Cooper Elementary School
231 students
What this shows Cooper Elementary School reports 231 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cooper Elementary School compares
Cooper Elementary School is a shrinking 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 | 11:1 | ▼ 26% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.3% | ▲ 2% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 231 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11:1
Leaner classes than 83% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
231
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 13% in Iowa - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
14.3%
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
$12,486
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 231 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 77.9%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
Two or More 8.7%
African American 3.9%
Asian 0.9%
Largest group: White at 77.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.6, Cooper Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Dodge Comm School District reports $12,486 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cooper Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dodge High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Dodge Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Duncombe Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Early Childhood Center | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Butler Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cooper Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 765
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 328
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Fort Dodge
3 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 (~231 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cooper Elementary School
How many students attend Cooper Elementary School?
Cooper Elementary School has 231 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fort Dodge, IA. CCD year-over-year: 252 (2022-23) → 238 (2023-24), down 14.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cooper Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cooper Elementary School is 11:1, which is 26% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 30% 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 Cooper Elementary School?
37.3% of students at Cooper Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cooper Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cooper Elementary School is White at 77.9% of enrollment, in Fort Dodge, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cooper Elementary School?
Cooper Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher 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 Cooper Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Fort Dodge?
By Resource Investment Index, Cooper Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Fort Dodge, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Fort Dodge on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Dodge Comm School District?
Besides Cooper Elementary School, Fort Dodge Comm School District also operates Fort Dodge High School (1,020 students), Fort Dodge Middle School (765 students), and Duncombe Elementary School (438 students). See the Fort Dodge Comm School District district page for the complete list.