Enrollment
426
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cedar Rapids, IA
Mckinley Steam Academy
Federal NCES profile for Mckinley Steam Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 190654000254
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mckinley Steam Academy earns 43/100 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 7
- middle schools in Cedar Rapids · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 44.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Mckinley Steam Academy has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mckinley Steam Academy ranks #3 of 7 middle schools in Cedar Rapids, IA.
School address
District: Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190654000254 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
44.2%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mckinley Steam Academy compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mckinley Steam Academy
Mckinley Steam Academy is a mid-sized middle school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, enrolling 426 students.
At 13.7:1, 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 above the state's typical profile, with 44.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 426 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 338 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #205.
Its student body is led by White (51%) and African American (28%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 213 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 132 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 426 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Cedar Rapids's middle schools, it stands alongside Harding Middle School (710 students): Mckinley Steam Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.7:1 vs 15.4:1).
Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students) and Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students) alongside Mckinley Steam Academy.
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 Mckinley Steam Academy compares
Mckinley Steam Academy on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.2% | ▲ 21% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 426 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
426
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
44.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in Iowa - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
49.3%
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
$13,962
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 213 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
31
in-school suspensions + 101 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 31.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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 50.9%
African American 27.6%
Two or More 11.8%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 50.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.4, Mckinley Steam Academy is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cedar Rapids Comm School District, which includes Mckinley Steam Academy.
$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 Mckinley Steam Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John F Kennedy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harding Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Taft Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mckinley Steam Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- 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
Similar middle schools in Cedar Rapids
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Harding Middle School
Standard public school
710 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Taft Middle School
Standard public school
593 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy
Standard public school
484 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Franklin Middle School
Standard public school
469 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Wilson Middle School
Standard public school
422 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy
Standard public school
47 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~426 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mckinley Steam Academy's federal record.
- Compare Mckinley Steam Academy 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 Mckinley Steam Academy
How many students attend Mckinley Steam Academy?
Mckinley Steam Academy has 426 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mckinley Steam Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Mckinley Steam Academy is 13.7:1, which is 7% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 13% 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 Mckinley Steam Academy?
44.2% of students at Mckinley Steam Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mckinley Steam Academy?
The largest demographic group at Mckinley Steam Academy is White at 50.9% of enrollment, in Cedar Rapids, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mckinley Steam Academy?
Mckinley Steam Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical 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 Mckinley Steam Academy rank among middle schools in Cedar Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Mckinley Steam Academy ranks #3 of 7 middle 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 middle schools in Cedar Rapids on the city page.
Is Mckinley Steam Academy a good school?
Mckinley Steam Academy earns 43/100 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 Cedar Rapids Comm School District?
Besides Mckinley Steam Academy, Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students), Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students), and George Washington High School (1,182 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.