- Enrollment
- 1,440
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ames, IA
Edwards Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Edwards Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190354000052
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Edwards Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Ames · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 35.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Edwards Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Edwards Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Ames, IA.
School address
District: Ames Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190354000052 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Edwards Elementary School held near 439 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 31.4 → 33.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 190354000052 · Ames, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
436 enr · 14.1:1 · 35.6% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Ames High School (1,440 students)
Edwards Elementary School held near 439 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE added 31.4 → 33.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Edwards Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ames High Scho
Ames High School
1,440 students
- Ames Middle Sc
Ames Middle School
1,033 students
- Fellows Elemen 489
Fellows Elementary School
489 students
- This school 436
Edwards Elementary School
436 students
- Sawyer Element 371
Sawyer Elementary School
371 students
- Meeker Element 361
Meeker Elementary School
361 students
What this shows Edwards Elementary School reports 436 students on the CCD universe file.
How Edwards Elementary School compares
Edwards Elementary School 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 | 14.1:1 | ▼ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.6% | ▼ 2% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 436 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
436
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 52% in Iowa - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,278
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 436 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 42 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.5%
African American 17.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.2%
Asian 8.7%
Two or More 6.9%
Largest group: White at 55.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.6, Edwards Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ames Comm School District reports $13,278 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Edwards Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ames Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fellows Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sawyer Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meeker Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Edwards Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,033
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 489
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 371
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Ames
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Fellows Elementary School
Standard public school
489 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Sawyer Elementary School
Standard public school
371 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Meeker Elementary School
Standard public school
361 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Mitchell Elementary School
Standard public school
314 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~436 students)
Frequently asked questions about Edwards Elementary School
How many students attend Edwards Elementary School?
Edwards Elementary School has 436 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ames, IA. CCD year-over-year: 450 (2022-23) → 439 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Edwards Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Edwards Elementary School is 14.1:1, which is 5% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 10% 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 Edwards Elementary School?
35.6% of students at Edwards Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Edwards Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Edwards Elementary School is White at 55.5% of enrollment, in Ames, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Edwards Elementary School?
Edwards Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Edwards Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Ames?
By Resource Investment Index, Edwards Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Ames, 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 Ames on the city page.
What other schools are in Ames Comm School District?
Besides Edwards Elementary School, Ames Comm School District also operates Ames High School (1,440 students), Ames Middle School (1,033 students), and Fellows Elementary School (489 students). See the Ames Comm School District district page for the complete list.