Enrollment
438
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fort Dodge, IA
Duncombe Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Duncombe Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191182000722
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Duncombe Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #4 of 4
- elementary schools in Fort Dodge · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 72.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Duncombe Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Duncombe Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Fort Dodge, IA.
School address
District: Fort Dodge Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191182000722 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.2%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+98% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Duncombe Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Duncombe Elementary School
Duncombe Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Fort Dodge, Iowa, enrolling 438 students.
At 13.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Iowa median, within a few percentage points of the 14.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 72.2% of students qualify for free meals, 98% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 438 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Among 92 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Iowa schools statewide, it ranks #68, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (51%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 438 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 20.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Fort Dodge's elementary schools, it stands alongside Butler Elementary School (328 students): Duncombe Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.7:1 vs 11.3:1).
Fort Dodge Comm School District also operates Fort Dodge High School (1,020 students) and Fort Dodge Middle School (765 students) alongside Duncombe Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Duncombe Elementary School compares
Duncombe Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.2% | ▲ 98% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 438 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
438
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 98% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in Iowa - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.4%
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
$12,309
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $12,854
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 438 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 51.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.8%
Two or More 14.6%
African American 7.3%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 51.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.6, Duncombe Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fort Dodge Comm School District, which includes Duncombe Elementary School.
$12,309
Per student
-4%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.4%
State 48.2%
Federal 20.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Duncombe Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dodge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Dodge Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Early Childhood Center | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Butler Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cooper Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Duncombe Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,020
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 765
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 328
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 231
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar elementary schools in Fort Dodge
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~438 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Duncombe Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Duncombe Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Fort Dodge Comm School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Duncombe Elementary School
How many students attend Duncombe Elementary School?
Duncombe Elementary School has 438 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fort Dodge, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Duncombe Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Duncombe Elementary School is 13.7:1, which is 7% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 13% 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 Duncombe Elementary School?
72.2% of students at Duncombe Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Duncombe Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Duncombe Elementary School is White at 51.1% of enrollment, in Fort Dodge, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Duncombe Elementary School?
Duncombe Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Duncombe Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Fort Dodge?
By Resource Investment Index, Duncombe Elementary School ranks #4 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.
Is Duncombe Elementary School a good school?
Duncombe Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Fort Dodge Comm School District?
Besides Duncombe Elementary School, Fort Dodge Comm School District also operates Fort Dodge High School (1,020 students), Fort Dodge Middle School (765 students), and Early Childhood Center (376 students). See the Fort Dodge Comm School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.