Enrollment
403
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cedar Rapids, IA
Prairie Heights Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Heights Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 190786000387
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Heights Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #4 of 17
- schools in Cedar Rapids · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 32.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Heights Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Heights Elementary School ranks #4 of 17 schools in Cedar Rapids, IA.
School address
District: College Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190786000387 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.9:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.1%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Prairie Heights Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Prairie Heights Elementary School
Prairie Heights Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, enrolling 403 students.
At 13.9:1, 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.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 32.1% lands close to the Iowa typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 403 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.
Among 434 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Iowa schools statewide, it ranks #333, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (65%) and African American (18%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 403 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Cedar Rapids's public schools, it stands alongside Prairie Point (868 students): Prairie Heights Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.9:1 vs 11.4:1).
College Comm School District also operates Prairie High School (1,766 students) and Prairie Point (868 students) alongside Prairie Heights Elementary School.
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 Prairie Heights Elementary School compares
Prairie Heights Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▼ 6% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.1% | ▼ 12% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 403 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
403
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 48% in Iowa - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.6%
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
$12,611
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $12,854
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 403 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 64.8%
African American 18.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.2%
Two or More 6.5%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 64.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.6, Prairie Heights Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for College Comm School District, which includes Prairie Heights Elementary School.
$12,611
Per student
-2%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 50.5%
State 41.8%
Federal 7.7%
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 Prairie Heights Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Prairie Point | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Prairie Creek | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Prairie Hill Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Prairie Ridge Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Heights Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,766
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 868
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 846
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Cedar Rapids
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Prairie Point
Standard public school
868 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Viola Gibson Elementary School
Standard public school
565 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
West Willow Elementary School
Standard public school
555 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Maple Grove Elementary
Standard public school
539 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Prairie Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
466 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Prairie Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
438 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~403 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Prairie Heights Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Prairie Heights Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- College 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 Prairie Heights Elementary School
How many students attend Prairie Heights Elementary School?
Prairie Heights Elementary School has 403 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Heights Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Heights Elementary School is 13.9:1, which is 6% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 11% 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 Prairie Heights Elementary School?
32.1% of students at Prairie Heights Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Heights Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Heights Elementary School is White at 64.8% of enrollment, in Cedar Rapids, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Heights Elementary School?
Prairie Heights Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Prairie Heights Elementary School rank among schools in Cedar Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Heights Elementary School ranks #4 of 17 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 schools in Cedar Rapids on the city page.
Is Prairie Heights Elementary School a good school?
Prairie Heights Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. 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 College Comm School District?
Besides Prairie Heights Elementary School, College Comm School District also operates Prairie High School (1,766 students), Prairie Point (868 students), and Prairie Creek (846 students). See the College 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.