- Enrollment
- 1,301
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Urbandale, IA
Karen Acres Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Karen Acres Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 192868001656
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Karen Acres Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #2 of 4
- schools in Urbandale · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 51.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Karen Acres Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Karen Acres Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 schools in Urbandale, IA.
School address
District: Urbandale Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192868001656 Verify on NCES CCD record →
NCES CCD campus card
296 on latest CCD 192868001656 · Urbandale, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
296 enr · 14.1:1 · 51.7% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Urbandale High School (1,301 students)
Resource Investment Index #2 of 4 schools in Urbandale. NCES Common Core of Data stamps for this campus. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Karen Acres Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Urbandale High
Urbandale High School
1,301 students
- Urbandale Midd
Urbandale Middle School
892 students
- Olmsted Elemen
Olmsted Elementary School
622 students
- Webster Elemen 519
Webster Elementary School
519 students
- This school 296
Karen Acres Elementary School
296 students
- Valerius Eleme 277
Valerius Elementary School
277 students
What this shows Karen Acres Elementary School reports 296 students on the CCD universe file.
How Karen Acres Elementary School compares
Karen Acres Elementary School vs Iowa and U.S. means on staffing and lunch eligibility.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▼ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.7% | ▲ 42% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 296 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
296
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 52% in Iowa - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,546
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
Counselors0.9 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Urbandale Comm School District reports $12,546 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Karen Acres Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urbandale High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Urbandale Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Olmsted Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Webster Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valerius Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Karen Acres Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 892
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 622
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 277
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Urbandale
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~296 students)
Frequently asked questions about Karen Acres Elementary School
How many students attend Karen Acres Elementary School?
Karen Acres Elementary School has 296 students enrolled. It is a public school in Urbandale, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Karen Acres Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Karen Acres Elementary School is 14.1:1, which is 5% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 10% 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 Karen Acres Elementary School?
51.7% of students at Karen Acres Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Karen Acres Elementary School?
Karen Acres Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Karen Acres Elementary School rank among schools in Urbandale?
By Resource Investment Index, Karen Acres Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 schools in Urbandale, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Urbandale on the city page.
What other schools are in Urbandale Comm School District?
Besides Karen Acres Elementary School, Urbandale Comm School District also operates Urbandale High School (1,301 students), Urbandale Middle School (892 students), and Olmsted Elementary School (622 students). See the Urbandale Comm School District district page for the complete list.