Enrollment
376
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · North Liberty, IA
James Van Allen Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for James Van Allen Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 191470001034
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Van Allen Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #3 of 5
- schools in North Liberty · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.5:1
- students per teacher
- 24.1%
- free-lunch eligible
James Van Allen Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Van Allen Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 schools in North Liberty, IA.
School address
District: Iowa City Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191470001034 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.5:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.1%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Van Allen Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Van Allen Elementary School
James Van Allen Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in North Liberty, Iowa, enrolling 376 students.
At 14.5:1, 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 24.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 376 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 406 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #192.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Hispanic or Latino (15%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 376 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
16.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among North Liberty's public schools, it stands alongside Penn Elementary School (512 students): James Van Allen Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.5:1 vs 15.5:1).
Iowa City Comm School District also operates Iowa City High School (1,666 students) and West Senior High School (1,514 students) alongside James Van Allen 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 James Van Allen Elementary School compares
James Van Allen 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 | 14.5:1 | ▼ 2% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.1% | ▼ 34% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 376 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
376
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
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
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 58% in Iowa - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.8%
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 376 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 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 59.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.4%
African American 13.0%
Asian 6.6%
Two or More 5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 59.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.7, James Van Allen 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 James Van Allen 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 James Van Allen Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar 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 | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Van Allen 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 North Liberty
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Penn Elementary School
Standard public school
512 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Christine Grant Elementary
Standard public school
426 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Buford Garner Elementary
Standard public school
344 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
North Bend Elementary
Standard public school
326 students 13:1 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 (~376 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Van Allen Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare James Van Allen 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 James Van Allen Elementary School
How many students attend James Van Allen Elementary School?
James Van Allen Elementary School has 376 students enrolled. It is a public school in North Liberty, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Van Allen Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Van Allen Elementary School is 14.5:1, which is 2% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 8% 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 James Van Allen Elementary School?
24.1% of students at James Van Allen Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Van Allen Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at James Van Allen Elementary School is White at 59.6% of enrollment, in North Liberty, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Van Allen Elementary School?
James Van Allen Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 James Van Allen Elementary School rank among schools in North Liberty?
By Resource Investment Index, James Van Allen Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 schools in North Liberty, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in North Liberty on the city page.
Is James Van Allen Elementary School a good school?
James Van Allen Elementary School earns 49/100 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 James Van Allen 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.