Enrollment
710
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cedar Rapids, IA
Harding Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Harding Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 190654000244
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Harding Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools.
- #5 of 7
- middle schools in Cedar Rapids · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 37.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Harding Middle School has class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Harding Middle School ranks #5 of 7 middle schools in Cedar Rapids, IA.
School address
District: Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190654000244 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
37.9%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+4% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Harding Middle School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Harding Middle School
Harding Middle School is a large middle school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, enrolling 710 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 37.9% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Iowa, bigger than 92% of state schools at 710 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 177 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #94.
Its student body is led by White (67%) and Hispanic or Latino (12%) (diversity index 53/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 238 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 37.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Cedar Rapids's middle schools, it stands alongside Taft Middle School (593 students): Harding Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.4:1 vs 14.8:1).
Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students) and Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students) alongside Harding Middle 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 Harding Middle School compares
Harding Middle 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 | 15.4:1 | ▲ 4% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.9% | ▲ 4% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 710 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
710
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
37.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 71% in Iowa - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
37.5%
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
$13,962
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $12,854
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 238 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
50
in-school suspensions + 58 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 66.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Two or More 9.7%
African American 6.8%
Asian 3.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 66.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.8, Harding Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cedar Rapids Comm School District, which includes Harding Middle School.
$13,962
Per student
+9%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.7%
State 48.5%
Federal 13.9%
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 Harding Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John F Kennedy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Taft Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Viola Gibson Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Harding Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,501
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 593
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools in Cedar Rapids
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Taft Middle School
Standard public school
593 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy
Standard public school
484 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Franklin Middle School
Standard public school
469 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Mckinley Steam Academy
Standard public school
426 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Wilson Middle School
Standard public school
422 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy
Standard public school
47 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~710 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Harding Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Harding Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Cedar Rapids 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 Harding Middle School
How many students attend Harding Middle School?
Harding Middle School has 710 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Harding Middle School is 15.4:1, which is 4% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Harding Middle School?
37.9% of students at Harding Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Harding Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Harding Middle School is White at 66.5% of enrollment, in Cedar Rapids, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Harding Middle School?
Harding Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Harding Middle School rank among middle schools in Cedar Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Harding Middle School ranks #5 of 7 middle schools in Cedar Rapids, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Cedar Rapids on the city page.
Is Harding Middle School a good school?
Harding Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of 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 Cedar Rapids Comm School District?
Besides Harding Middle School, Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students), Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students), and George Washington High School (1,182 students). See the Cedar Rapids 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.