- Enrollment
- 157
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Melcher, IA
Melcher-Dallas High School
Federal NCES profile for Melcher-Dallas High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 191896001122
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Melcher-Dallas High School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Iowa schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.8:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 31.4%
- free-lunch eligible
- 151
- students enrolled
Melcher-Dallas High School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Melcher-Dallas Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191896001122 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Melcher-Dallas High School shrank from 153 students in 2022-23 to 145 in 2023-24 (-5.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 14.7 → 12.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-8 students YoY 191896001122 · Melcher, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
151 enr · 10.8:1 · 31.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Melcher-Dallas Elem (157 students)
Melcher-Dallas High School shrank from 153 students in 2022-23 to 145 in 2023-24 (-5.2%). Teacher FTE lost 14.7 → 12.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
How Melcher-Dallas High School compares
Melcher-Dallas High School 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 | 10.8:1 | ▼ 27% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.4% | ▼ 14% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 151 | top 85% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
151
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 27% below state mean
Top 12% in Iowa - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
39.7%
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
$13,042
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
7
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 96.7%
African American 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 0.7%
Largest group: White at 96.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 6.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 6.4, Melcher-Dallas High School 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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melcher-Dallas Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Melcher-Dallas High School'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 (~151 students)
Frequently asked questions about Melcher-Dallas High School
How many students attend Melcher-Dallas High School?
Melcher-Dallas High School has 151 students enrolled. It is a public school in Melcher, IA. CCD year-over-year: 153 (2022-23) → 145 (2023-24), down 8.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Melcher-Dallas High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Melcher-Dallas High School is 10.8:1, which is 27% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 31% 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 High School?
31.4% of students at Melcher-Dallas High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Melcher-Dallas High School?
The largest demographic group at Melcher-Dallas High School is White at 96.7% of enrollment, in Melcher, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Melcher-Dallas High School?
Melcher-Dallas High School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical 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 High School, Melcher-Dallas Comm School District also operates Melcher-Dallas Elem (157 students). See the Melcher-Dallas Comm School District district page for the complete list.