- Enrollment
- 1,440
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ames, IA
Meeker Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Meeker Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190354000056
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 64
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meeker Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Iowa schools.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Ames · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 30.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Meeker Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 73% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meeker Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Ames, IA.
School address
District: Ames Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190354000056 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Meeker Elementary School held near 365 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 29.9 → 31.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 190354000056 · Ames, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
361 enr · 12.4:1 · 30.8% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Ames High School (1,440 students)
Meeker Elementary School held near 365 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 29.9 → 31.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Meeker Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ames High Scho
Ames High School
1,440 students
- Ames Middle Sc
Ames Middle School
1,033 students
- Fellows Elemen 489
Fellows Elementary School
489 students
- Edwards Elemen 436
Edwards Elementary School
436 students
- Sawyer Element 371
Sawyer Elementary School
371 students
- This school 361
Meeker Elementary School
361 students
What this shows Meeker Elementary School reports 361 students on the CCD universe file.
How Meeker Elementary School compares
Meeker Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 16% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.8% | ▼ 15% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 361 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
361
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 27% in Iowa - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
25.5%
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
$13,278
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 181 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.5%
Two or More 12.3%
Hispanic or Latino 9.5%
African American 5.3%
Asian 2.5%
Largest group: White at 70.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.5, Meeker Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
District finance for Ames Comm School District reports $13,278 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Meeker Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ames Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fellows Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Edwards Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sawyer Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meeker Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,033
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 489
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 371
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Ames
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Fellows Elementary School
Standard public school
489 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Edwards Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Sawyer Elementary School
Standard public school
371 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Mitchell Elementary School
Standard public school
314 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~361 students)
Frequently asked questions about Meeker Elementary School
How many students attend Meeker Elementary School?
Meeker Elementary School has 361 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ames, IA. CCD year-over-year: 351 (2022-23) → 365 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meeker Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Meeker Elementary School is 12.4:1, which is 16% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 21% 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 Meeker Elementary School?
30.8% of students at Meeker Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meeker Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Meeker Elementary School is White at 70.5% of enrollment, in Ames, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meeker Elementary School?
Meeker Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 Meeker Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Ames?
By Resource Investment Index, Meeker Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Ames, 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 Ames on the city page.
What other schools are in Ames Comm School District?
Besides Meeker Elementary School, Ames Comm School District also operates Ames High School (1,440 students), Ames Middle School (1,033 students), and Fellows Elementary School (489 students). See the Ames Comm School District district page for the complete list.