- Enrollment
- 151
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Dallas, IA
Melcher-Dallas Elem
Federal NCES profile for Melcher-Dallas Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 191896001121
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Melcher-Dallas Elem earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 25.4%
- free-lunch eligible
- 157
- students enrolled
Melcher-Dallas Elem has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Melcher-Dallas Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191896001121 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Melcher-Dallas Elem shrank from 177 students in 2022-23 to 156 in 2023-24 (-11.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 11.5 → 10.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-21 students YoY 191896001121 · Dallas, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
157 enr · 14.3:1 · 25.4% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Melcher-Dallas High School (151 students)
Melcher-Dallas Elem shrank from 177 students in 2022-23 to 156 in 2023-24 (-11.9%). Teacher FTE lost 11.5 → 10.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
How Melcher-Dallas Elem compares
Melcher-Dallas Elem 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 | 14.3:1 | ▼ 3% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.4% | ▼ 30% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 157 | top 84% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
157
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 56% in Iowa - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,042
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 97.5%
Two or More 1.9%
African American 0.6%
Largest group: White at 97.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.9, Melcher-Dallas Elem is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Melcher-Dallas Comm School District reports $13,042 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Melcher-Dallas Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melcher-Dallas High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Melcher-Dallas Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~157 students)
Frequently asked questions about Melcher-Dallas Elem
How many students attend Melcher-Dallas Elem?
Melcher-Dallas Elem has 157 students enrolled. It is a public school in Dallas, IA. CCD year-over-year: 177 (2022-23) → 156 (2023-24), down 21.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Melcher-Dallas Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Melcher-Dallas Elem is 14.3:1, which is 3% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 9% 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 Melcher-Dallas Elem?
25.4% of students at Melcher-Dallas Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Melcher-Dallas Elem?
The largest demographic group at Melcher-Dallas Elem is White at 97.5% of enrollment, in Dallas, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Melcher-Dallas Elem?
Melcher-Dallas Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Melcher-Dallas Comm School District?
Besides Melcher-Dallas Elem, Melcher-Dallas Comm School District also operates Melcher-Dallas High School (151 students). See the Melcher-Dallas Comm School District district page for the complete list.