Enrollment
1,648
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Cedar Rapids, IA
John F Kennedy High School
Federal NCES profile for John F Kennedy High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 190654000250
👥 S:T ratio 31
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John F Kennedy High School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Cedar Rapids · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 27.4%
- free-lunch eligible
John F Kennedy High School has class sizes larger than 86% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John F Kennedy High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Cedar Rapids, IA.
School address
District: Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190654000250 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
96.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.2:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
27.4%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How John F Kennedy High School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at John F Kennedy High School
John F Kennedy High School is a large high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, enrolling 1,648 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.2:1 is larger than about 86% of Iowa schools and 16% above the 14.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 27.4% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Iowa, bigger than 99% of state schools at 1,648 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 38 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #27.
Its student body is led by White (72%) and African American (10%) (diversity index 47/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 28 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 330 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 38.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Cedar Rapids's high schools, it stands alongside Prairie High School (1,766 students): John F Kennedy High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.2:1 vs 24.5:1).
Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students) and George Washington High School (1,182 students) alongside John F Kennedy High 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 John F Kennedy High School compares
John F Kennedy High 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 | 17.2:1 | ▲ 16% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.4% | ▼ 25% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,648 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,648
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
27.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 86% in Iowa - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
38.7%
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
$13,962
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 330 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 101 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 71.5%
African American 9.7%
Two or More 8.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 71.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.6, John F Kennedy High School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
AP courses offered 28
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cedar Rapids Comm School District, which includes John F Kennedy High School.
$13,962
Per student
+9%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.7%
State 48.5%
Federal 13.9%
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 John F Kennedy High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harding Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Taft Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Viola Gibson Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John F Kennedy High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,501
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 710
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 593
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Cedar Rapids
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Prairie High School
Standard public school
1,766 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Thomas Jefferson High School
Standard public school
1,501 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
George Washington High School
Standard public school
1,182 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Metro High School
Alternative education program
288 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~1,648 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on John F Kennedy High School's federal record.
- Compare John F Kennedy High School against another school. Compare schools
- Cedar Rapids 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 John F Kennedy High School
How many students attend John F Kennedy High School?
John F Kennedy High School has 1,648 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy High School?
The student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy High School is 17.2:1, which is 16% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at John F Kennedy High School?
27.4% of students at John F Kennedy High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John F Kennedy High School?
The largest demographic group at John F Kennedy High School is White at 71.5% of enrollment, in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John F Kennedy High School?
John F Kennedy High School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does John F Kennedy High School rank among high schools in Cedar Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, John F Kennedy High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Cedar Rapids, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Cedar Rapids on the city page.
Is John F Kennedy High School a good school?
John F Kennedy High School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa. 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 Cedar Rapids Comm School District?
Besides John F Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students), George Washington High School (1,182 students), and Harding Middle School (710 students). See the Cedar Rapids 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.