- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Des Moines, IA
Jackson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Jackson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190897000547
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jackson Elementary School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #34 of 34
- elementary schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.5:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 73.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Jackson Elementary School has class sizes larger than 87% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jackson Elementary School ranks #34 of 34 elementary schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000547 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+89 students YoY
Jackson Elementary School grew from 406 students in 2022-23 to 495 in 2023-24 (+21.9%).
Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 33.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+89 students YoY 190897000547 · Des Moines, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
490 enr · 17.5:1 · 73.4% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Jackson Elementary School grew from 406 students in 2022-23 to 495 in 2023-24 (+21.9%). Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 33.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Jackson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
2,364 students
- Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School
2,051 students
- East High Scho
East High School
1,952 students
- North High Sch
North High School
1,428 students
- Hoover High Sc 898
Hoover High School
898 students
- This school 490
Jackson Elementary School
490 students
What this shows Jackson Elementary School reports 490 students on the CCD universe file.
How Jackson Elementary School compares
Jackson Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.5:1 | ▲ 18% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.4% | ▲ 102% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 490 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
490
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 102% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 87% in Iowa - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
32.4%
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
$15,286
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 490 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.6%
African American 21.8%
White 20.6%
Asian 11.2%
Two or More 5.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.0, Jackson Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Des Moines Independent Comm School District reports $15,286 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Jackson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jackson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 31.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,952
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Des Moines
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Brubaker Elementary School
Standard public school
622 students 12:1 students per teacher
Studebaker Elementary School
Standard public school
561 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Garton Elementary
Standard public school
535 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Morris Elementary School
Standard public school
519 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
River Woods Elementary School
Standard public school
493 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Perkins Elementary School
Standard public school
438 students 15.6:1 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 (~490 students)
Frequently asked questions about Jackson Elementary School
How many students attend Jackson Elementary School?
Jackson Elementary School has 490 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 406 (2022-23) → 495 (2023-24), up 89.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jackson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jackson Elementary School is 17.5:1, which is 18% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Jackson Elementary School?
73.4% of students at Jackson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jackson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Jackson Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 40.6% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jackson Elementary School?
Jackson Elementary School 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 Jackson Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Jackson Elementary School ranks #34 of 34 elementary schools in Des Moines, 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 Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Besides Jackson Elementary School, Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students), Roosevelt High School (2,051 students), and East High School (1,952 students). See the Des Moines Independent Comm School District district page for the complete list.