- Enrollment
- 1,470
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ankeny, IA
Prairie Trail Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Trail Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190369002183
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Trail Elementary earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Iowa schools.
- #2 of 10
- elementary schools in Ankeny · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.5:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 6.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Trail Elementary has class sizes larger than 72% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Trail Elementary ranks #2 of 10 elementary schools in Ankeny, IA.
School address
District: Ankeny Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190369002183 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-29 students YoY
Prairie Trail Elementary shrank from 571 students in 2022-23 to 542 in 2023-24 (-5.1%).
Teacher FTE added 34.9 → 36.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-29 students YoY 190369002183 · Ankeny, IA Elementary · MID · TRAD
526 enr · 15.5:1 · 6.3% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Ankeny Centennial High School (1,470 students)
Prairie Trail Elementary shrank from 571 students in 2022-23 to 542 in 2023-24 (-5.1%). Teacher FTE added 34.9 → 36.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Prairie Trail Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ankeny Centenn
Ankeny Centennial High School
1,470 students
- Ankeny High Sc
Ankeny High School
1,375 students
- Northview Midd
Northview Middle School
1,021 students
- Prairie Ridge
Prairie Ridge Middle School
1,004 students
- Southview Midd
Southview Middle School
913 students
- This school 526
Prairie Trail Elementary
526 students
What this shows Prairie Trail Elementary reports 526 students on the CCD universe file.
How Prairie Trail Elementary compares
Prairie Trail Elementary 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 | 15.5:1 | ▲ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 6.3% | ▼ 83% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 526 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
526
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
6.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 83% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 72% in Iowa - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,127
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 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 83.3%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 2.3%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 83.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.6, Prairie Trail Elementary is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ankeny Comm School District reports $12,127 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Prairie Trail Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny Centennial High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ankeny High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northview Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Prairie Ridge Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southview Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Trail Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,375
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,021
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,004
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 913
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar elementary schools in Ankeny
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Rock Creek Elementary
Standard public school
639 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Heritage Elementary
Standard public school
604 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Northeast Elementary
Standard public school
595 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Southeast Elementary School
Standard public school
585 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Westwood Elementary School
Standard public school
551 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Ashland Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
548 students 14.8:1 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 (~526 students)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Trail Elementary
How many students attend Prairie Trail Elementary?
Prairie Trail Elementary has 526 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ankeny, IA. CCD year-over-year: 571 (2022-23) → 542 (2023-24), down 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trail Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trail Elementary is 15.5:1, which is 5% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Prairie Trail Elementary?
6.3% of students at Prairie Trail Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Trail Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Trail Elementary is White at 83.3% of enrollment, in Ankeny, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Trail Elementary?
Prairie Trail Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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 Prairie Trail Elementary rank among elementary schools in Ankeny?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Trail Elementary ranks #2 of 10 elementary schools in Ankeny, 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 Ankeny on the city page.
What other schools are in Ankeny Comm School District?
Besides Prairie Trail Elementary, Ankeny Comm School District also operates Ankeny Centennial High School (1,470 students), Ankeny High School (1,375 students), and Northview Middle School (1,021 students). See the Ankeny Comm School District district page for the complete list.