- Enrollment
- 555
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Decorah, IA
John Cline Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for John Cline Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 190873000500
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John Cline Elementary School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Iowa schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Decorah · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.1:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 21.8%
- free-lunch eligible
John Cline Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 86% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John Cline Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Decorah, IA.
School address
District: Decorah Community School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190873000500 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-44 students YoY
John Cline Elementary School shrank from 354 students in 2022-23 to 310 in 2023-24 (-12.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 27.2 → 26.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-44 students YoY 190873000500 · Decorah, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
300 enr · 11.1:1 · 21.8% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Decorah High School (555 students)
John Cline Elementary School shrank from 354 students in 2022-23 to 310 in 2023-24 (-12.4%). Teacher FTE lost 27.2 → 26.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
John Cline Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Decorah High S
Decorah High School
555 students
- Decorah Middle
Decorah Middle School
432 students
- This school
John Cline Elementary School
300 students
- Carrie Lee Ele 215
Carrie Lee Elementary
215 students
What this shows John Cline Elementary School reports 300 students on the CCD universe file.
How John Cline Elementary School compares
John Cline Elementary School is a shrinking 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 | 11.1:1 | ▼ 25% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.8% | ▼ 40% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 300 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
300
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 14% in Iowa - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
12.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,253
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $13,441
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 300 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 89.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
Two or More 2.3%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: White at 89.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.9, John Cline Elementary School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Decorah Community School District reports $13,253 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How John Cline Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decorah High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Decorah Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Carrie Lee Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John Cline Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 432
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 215
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Nationwide other 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 (~300 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about John Cline Elementary School
How many students attend John Cline Elementary School?
John Cline Elementary School has 300 students enrolled. It is a public school in Decorah, IA. CCD year-over-year: 354 (2022-23) → 310 (2023-24), down 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Cline Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at John Cline Elementary School is 11.1:1, which is 25% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 29% 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 John Cline Elementary School?
21.8% of students at John Cline Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John Cline Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at John Cline Elementary School is White at 89.7% of enrollment, in Decorah, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John Cline Elementary School?
John Cline Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 John Cline Elementary School rank among public schools in Decorah?
By Resource Investment Index, John Cline Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Decorah, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Decorah Community School District?
Besides John Cline Elementary School, Decorah Community School District also operates Decorah High School (555 students), Decorah Middle School (432 students), and Carrie Lee Elementary (215 students). See the Decorah Community School District district page for the complete list.