- Enrollment
- 458
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Des Moines, IA
Cornell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cornell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 192532001445
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cornell Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #9 of 14
- schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 38.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Cornell Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cornell Elementary School ranks #9 of 14 schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Saydel Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192532001445 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+33 students YoY
Cornell Elementary School grew from 527 students in 2022-23 to 560 in 2023-24 (+6.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.9 → 37.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+33 students YoY 192532001445 · Des Moines, IA Other · MID · TRAD
555 enr · 14.6:1 · 38.3% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Saydel High School (458 students)
Cornell Elementary School grew from 527 students in 2022-23 to 560 in 2023-24 (+6.3%). Teacher FTE lost 38.9 → 37.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Cornell Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Cornell Elementary School
555 students
- Saydel High Sc
Saydel High School
458 students
- Woodside Middl
Woodside Middle School
396 students
What this shows Cornell Elementary School reports 555 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cornell Elementary School compares
Cornell 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 | 14.6:1 | ▼ 1% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.3% | ▲ 5% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 555 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
555
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 60% in Iowa - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.7%
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
$15,826
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 555 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 54 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.5%
Hispanic or Latino 20.7%
Two or More 6.3%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 70.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.6, Cornell Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Saydel Comm School District reports $15,826 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cornell Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saydel High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Woodside Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cornell Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar other schools in Des Moines
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Clive Learning Academy
Standard public school
551 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Capitol View Elementary School
Standard public school
533 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Moulton Elementary School
Standard public school
465 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Delaware Elementary
Standard public school
440 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Cowles Elementary School
Standard public school
392 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Virtual Campus
Standard public school
380 students 10:1 students per teacher
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 (~555 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cornell Elementary School
How many students attend Cornell Elementary School?
Cornell Elementary School has 555 students enrolled. It is a public school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 527 (2022-23) → 560 (2023-24), up 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cornell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cornell Elementary School is 14.6:1, which is 1% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 7% 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 Cornell Elementary School?
38.3% of students at Cornell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cornell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cornell Elementary School is White at 70.5% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cornell Elementary School?
Cornell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Cornell Elementary School rank among schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Cornell Elementary School ranks #9 of 14 schools in Des Moines, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in Saydel Comm School District?
Besides Cornell Elementary School, Saydel Comm School District also operates Saydel High School (458 students) and Woodside Middle School (396 students). See the Saydel Comm School District district page for the complete list.