- Enrollment
- 442
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fairfield, IA
Pence Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Pence Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191134000698
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pence Elementary earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Fairfield · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 44.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Pence Elementary has class sizes smaller than 85% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pence Elementary ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Fairfield, IA.
School address
District: Fairfield Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191134000698 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Pence Elementary held near 339 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.1 → 26.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 191134000698 · Fairfield, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
317 enr · 11.3:1 · 44.1% lunch · RII 62
Nearest enrollment peer: Fairfield High School (442 students)
Pence Elementary held near 339 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.1 → 26.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Pence Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fairfield High
Fairfield High School
442 students
- Fairfield Midd
Fairfield Middle School
410 students
- This school
Pence Elementary
317 students
- Washington Ele
Washington Elementary
239 students
What this shows Pence Elementary reports 317 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pence Elementary compares
Pence Elementary 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 24% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.1% | ▲ 21% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 317 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
317
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.1%
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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 15% in Iowa - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
6.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$14,534
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 317 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.9%
Two or More 7.9%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
Asian 4.1%
African American 1.9%
Largest group: White at 78.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.4, Pence Elementary is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fairfield Comm School District reports $14,534 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pence Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fairfield Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pence Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 410
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 239
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Fairfield
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~317 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pence Elementary
How many students attend Pence Elementary?
Pence Elementary has 317 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fairfield, IA. CCD year-over-year: 333 (2022-23) → 339 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pence Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pence Elementary is 11.3:1, which is 24% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 28% 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 Pence Elementary?
44.1% of students at Pence Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pence Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Pence Elementary is White at 78.9% of enrollment, in Fairfield, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pence Elementary?
Pence Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (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 Pence Elementary rank among public schools in Fairfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Pence Elementary ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Fairfield, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Fairfield Comm School District?
Besides Pence Elementary, Fairfield Comm School District also operates Fairfield High School (442 students), Fairfield Middle School (410 students), and Washington Elementary (239 students). See the Fairfield Comm School District district page for the complete list.