- Enrollment
- 2,178
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · West Des Moines, IA
Fairmeadows Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Fairmeadows Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193093001792
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fairmeadows Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #4 of 6
- schools in West Des Moines · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 23.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Fairmeadows Elementary School has class sizes larger than 83% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fairmeadows Elementary School ranks #4 of 6 schools in West Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: West Des Moines Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193093001792 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
Fairmeadows Elementary School held near 545 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.3 → 36.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-24 students YoY 193093001792 · West Des Moines, IA Other · MID · TRAD
542 enr · 16.9:1 · 23.4% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley High School (2,178 students)
Fairmeadows Elementary School held near 545 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.3 → 36.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Fairmeadows Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Valley High Sc
Valley High School
2,178 students
- Westridge Elem 744
Westridge Elementary
744 students
- Valley Southwo 678
Valley Southwoods
678 students
- Indian Hills J 661
Indian Hills Junior High School
661 students
- Jordan Creek E 652
Jordan Creek Elementary School
652 students
- This school 542
Fairmeadows Elementary School
542 students
What this shows Fairmeadows Elementary School reports 542 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fairmeadows Elementary School compares
Fairmeadows 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 | 16.9:1 | ▲ 14% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.4% | ▼ 36% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 542 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
542
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 83% in Iowa - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.7%
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
$13,914
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 542 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.5%
Hispanic or Latino 15.1%
African American 9.2%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 62.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, Fairmeadows Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for West Des Moines Comm School District reports $13,914 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fairmeadows Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westridge Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valley Southwoods | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Hills Junior High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Creek Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fairmeadows Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 678
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 652
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in West Des Moines
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Westridge Elementary
Standard public school
744 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Jordan Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
652 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Western Hills Elementary School
Standard public school
570 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Hillside Elementary School
Standard public school
548 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Learning Resource Center
Standard public school
29 students 14.5:1 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 (~542 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fairmeadows Elementary School
How many students attend Fairmeadows Elementary School?
Fairmeadows Elementary School has 542 students enrolled. It is a public school in West Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 569 (2022-23) → 545 (2023-24), nearly flat (-24).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fairmeadows Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fairmeadows Elementary School is 16.9:1, which is 14% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fairmeadows Elementary School?
23.4% of students at Fairmeadows Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fairmeadows Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Fairmeadows Elementary School is White at 62.5% of enrollment, in West Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fairmeadows Elementary School?
Fairmeadows Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Fairmeadows Elementary School rank among schools in West Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Fairmeadows Elementary School ranks #4 of 6 schools in West 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 West Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in West Des Moines Comm School District?
Besides Fairmeadows Elementary School, West Des Moines Comm School District also operates Valley High School (2,178 students), Westridge Elementary (744 students), and Valley Southwoods (678 students). See the West Des Moines Comm School District district page for the complete list.