Enrollment
212
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Burlington, IA
James Wilson Grimes School
Federal NCES profile for James Wilson Grimes School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190579000187
👥 S:T ratio 66
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Wilson Grimes School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 98% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Burlington · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 8.5:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 71.4%
- free-lunch eligible
James Wilson Grimes School has class sizes smaller than 98% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Wilson Grimes School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Burlington, IA.
School address
District: Burlington Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190579000187 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
8.5:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-43% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
71.4%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+96% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Wilson Grimes School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Wilson Grimes School
James Wilson Grimes School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Burlington, Iowa, enrolling 212 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 8.5:1, James Wilson Grimes School is leaner than roughly 98% of Iowa schools and 43% under the state's 14.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 71.4% of students qualify for free meals, 96% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 212 puts it in the smaller third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 1,322 Iowa schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 45 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Iowa schools statewide, it ranks #39, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and African American (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 424 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 44.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 16.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 55 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 212 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Burlington's elementary schools, it stands alongside Aldo Leopold Intermediate School (412 students): James Wilson Grimes School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (8.5:1 vs 10:1).
Burlington Comm School District also operates Burlington Community High School (1,016 students) and Edward Stone Middle School (452 students) alongside James Wilson Grimes 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 Wilson Grimes School compares
James Wilson Grimes 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 | 8.5:1 | ▼ 43% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.4% | ▲ 96% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 212 | top 73% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.5:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
212
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
71.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 96% 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
8.5:1
students per teacher
- 43% below state mean
Top 2% in Iowa - lower ratio than 98% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
44.3%
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
$13,983
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 47 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.9 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 56.6%
African American 20.8%
Two or More 13.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
Largest group: White at 56.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.0, James Wilson Grimes School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Burlington Comm School District, which includes James Wilson Grimes School.
$13,983
Per student
+9%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.3%
State 57.5%
Federal 16.2%
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 Wilson Grimes School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Community High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edward Stone Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Aldo Leopold Intermediate School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Black Hawk Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunnyside Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Wilson Grimes School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 452
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 412
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 305
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 298
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar elementary schools in Burlington
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Aldo Leopold Intermediate School
Standard public school
412 students 10:1 students per teacher
Black Hawk Elementary School
Standard public school
305 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Sunnyside Elementary School
Standard public school
298 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
North Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
268 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~212 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Wilson Grimes School's federal record.
- Compare James Wilson Grimes School against another school. Compare schools
- Burlington 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 Wilson Grimes School
How many students attend James Wilson Grimes School?
James Wilson Grimes School has 212 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Burlington, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Wilson Grimes School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Wilson Grimes School is 8.5:1, which is 43% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 46% 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 Wilson Grimes School?
71.4% of students at James Wilson Grimes School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Wilson Grimes School?
The largest demographic group at James Wilson Grimes School is White at 56.6% of enrollment, in Burlington, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Wilson Grimes School?
James Wilson Grimes School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 Wilson Grimes School rank among elementary schools in Burlington?
By Resource Investment Index, James Wilson Grimes School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Burlington, 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 Burlington on the city page.
Is James Wilson Grimes School a good school?
James Wilson Grimes School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 98% of Iowa schools. 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 Burlington Comm School District?
Besides James Wilson Grimes School, Burlington Comm School District also operates Burlington Community High School (1,016 students), Edward Stone Middle School (452 students), and Aldo Leopold Intermediate School (412 students). See the Burlington 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.