- Enrollment
- 1,440
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ames, IA
Fellows Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Fellows Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190354000053
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fellows Elementary School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #1 of 5
- elementary schools in Ames · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.9:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 24.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Fellows Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 79% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fellows Elementary School ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Ames, IA.
School address
District: Ames Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190354000053 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Fellows Elementary School held near 518 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.9 → 38.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 190354000053 · Ames, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
489 enr · 11.9:1 · 24.1% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Ames High School (1,440 students)
Fellows Elementary School held near 518 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.9 → 38.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Fellows 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
- This school 489
Fellows Elementary School
489 students
- Edwards Elemen 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 Fellows Elementary School reports 489 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fellows Elementary School compares
Fellows 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 | 11.9:1 | ▼ 20% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.1% | ▼ 34% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 489 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
489
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% 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
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 21% in Iowa - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.6%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 245 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.7%
Asian 17.0%
Hispanic or Latino 13.8%
Two or More 7.0%
African American 5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 56.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.3, Fellows Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
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 Fellows 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edwards Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sawyer Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meeker Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fellows 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
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- 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.
Edwards Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 14.1:1 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 (~489 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fellows Elementary School
How many students attend Fellows Elementary School?
Fellows Elementary School has 489 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ames, IA. CCD year-over-year: 528 (2022-23) → 518 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fellows Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fellows Elementary School is 11.9:1, which is 20% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 24% 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 Fellows Elementary School?
24.1% of students at Fellows Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fellows Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Fellows Elementary School is White at 56.7% of enrollment, in Ames, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fellows Elementary School?
Fellows Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Fellows Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Ames?
By Resource Investment Index, Fellows Elementary School ranks #1 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 Fellows Elementary School, Ames Comm School District also operates Ames High School (1,440 students), Ames Middle School (1,033 students), and Edwards Elementary School (436 students). See the Ames Comm School District district page for the complete list.