- Enrollment
- 1,258
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Belton, MO
Gladden Elem.
Federal NCES profile for Gladden Elem., including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 290462000052
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gladden Elem. earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Missouri median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #5 of 5
- elementary schools in Belton · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.6:1
- students per teacher
- 44.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Gladden Elem. has class sizes near the Missouri median. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gladden Elem. ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Belton, MO.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Gladden Elem. held near 368 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.8 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 290462000052 · Belton, MO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
326 enr · 11.6:1 · 44.8% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Belton High (1,258 students)
Gladden Elem. held near 368 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.8 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Gladden Elem. in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Belton High
Belton High
1,258 students
- Belton Middle
Belton Middle School
641 students
- Cambridge Elem 501
Cambridge Elem.
501 students
- Wilckens Steam 486
Wilckens Steam Acad @Hillcrest
486 students
- Mill Creek Upp 435
Mill Creek Upper Elem.
435 students
- This school 326
Gladden Elem.
326 students
What this shows Gladden Elem. reports 326 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gladden Elem. compares
Gladden Elem. held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.6:1 | ▼ 9% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.8% | ▼ 3% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 326 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.6:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
326
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Missouri average of 46.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.6:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 36% in Missouri - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
38.7%
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
$13,569
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
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 326 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 58.9%
Hispanic or Latino 18.4%
Two or More 12.9%
African American 8.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Largest group: White at 58.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.5, Gladden Elem. is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
District finance for Belton 124 reports $13,569 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gladden Elem. Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Belton Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cambridge Elem. | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wilckens Steam Acad @Hillcrest | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mill Creek Upper Elem. | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gladden Elem.'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 501
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 486
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~326 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gladden Elem.
How many students attend Gladden Elem.?
Gladden Elem. has 326 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Belton, MO. CCD year-over-year: 382 (2022-23) → 368 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gladden Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Gladden Elem. is 11.6:1, which is 9% lower than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 26% 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 Gladden Elem.?
44.8% of students at Gladden Elem. are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gladden Elem.?
The largest demographic group at Gladden Elem. is White at 58.9% of enrollment, in Belton, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gladden Elem.?
Gladden Elem. has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Gladden Elem. rank among elementary schools in Belton?
By Resource Investment Index, Gladden Elem. ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Belton, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Belton on the city page.
What other schools are in Belton 124?
Besides Gladden Elem., Belton 124 also operates Belton High (1,258 students), Belton Middle School (641 students), and Cambridge Elem. (501 students). See the Belton 124 district page for the complete list.