Enrollment
340
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Iowa City, IA
Helen Lemme Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Helen Lemme Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 191470000887
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Helen Lemme Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #4 of 9
- schools in Iowa City · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 30.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Helen Lemme Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Helen Lemme Elementary School ranks #4 of 9 schools in Iowa City, IA.
School address
District: Iowa City Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191470000887 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
30.2%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Helen Lemme Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Helen Lemme Elementary School
Helen Lemme Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Iowa City, Iowa, enrolling 340 students.
At 14.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Iowa median, within a few percentage points of the 14.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 30.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 340 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 465 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #205.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (18%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 340 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
17.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Iowa City's public schools, it stands alongside Herbert Hoover Elementary School (464 students): Helen Lemme Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.2:1 vs 12.2:1).
Iowa City Comm School District also operates Iowa City High School (1,666 students) and West Senior High School (1,514 students) alongside Helen Lemme Elementary 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 Helen Lemme Elementary School compares
Helen Lemme Elementary 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 | 14.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.2% | ▼ 17% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 340 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
340
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
30.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 54% in Iowa - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,920
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 340 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 61.5%
Hispanic or Latino 17.6%
African American 15.3%
Two or More 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 61.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.5, Helen Lemme Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Iowa City Comm School District, which includes Helen Lemme Elementary School.
$13,920
Per student
+8%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 45.7%
State 41.5%
Federal 12.8%
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 Helen Lemme Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southeast Junior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwest Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Helen Lemme Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,666
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,514
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,286
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,113
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Iowa City
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Standard public school
464 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Ernest Horn Elementary School
Standard public school
453 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Alexander Elementary
Standard public school
436 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Grant Wood Elementary School
Standard public school
306 students 8.7:1 students per teacher
Robert Lucas Elementary School
Standard public school
245 students 10.2:1 students per teacher
Mark Twain Elementary
Standard public school
213 students 8.9:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~340 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Helen Lemme Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Helen Lemme Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Iowa City 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 Helen Lemme Elementary School
How many students attend Helen Lemme Elementary School?
Helen Lemme Elementary School has 340 students enrolled. It is a public school in Iowa City, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helen Lemme Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Helen Lemme Elementary School is 14.2:1, which is 4% 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 Helen Lemme Elementary School?
30.2% of students at Helen Lemme Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Helen Lemme Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Helen Lemme Elementary School is White at 61.5% of enrollment, in Iowa City, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Helen Lemme Elementary School?
Helen Lemme Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Helen Lemme Elementary School rank among schools in Iowa City?
By Resource Investment Index, Helen Lemme Elementary School ranks #4 of 9 schools in Iowa City, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Iowa City on the city page.
Is Helen Lemme Elementary School a good school?
Helen Lemme Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools. 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 Iowa City Comm School District?
Besides Helen Lemme Elementary School, Iowa City Comm School District also operates Iowa City High School (1,666 students), West Senior High School (1,514 students), and Liberty High School (1,286 students). See the Iowa City 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.