- Enrollment
- 1,440
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ames, IA
Sawyer Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sawyer Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190354000049
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sawyer Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Ames · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.8:1
- students per teacher
- 28.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Sawyer Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sawyer Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Ames, IA.
School address
District: Ames Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190354000049 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Sawyer Elementary School held near 375 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 29.4 → 30.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 190354000049 · Ames, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
371 enr · 12.8:1 · 28.1% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Ames High School (1,440 students)
Sawyer Elementary School held near 375 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 29.4 → 30.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Sawyer Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ames High Scho
Ames High School
1,440 students
- Ames Middle Sc
Ames Middle School
1,033 students
- Fellows Elemen 489
Fellows Elementary School
489 students
- Edwards Elemen 436
Edwards Elementary School
436 students
- This school 371
Sawyer Elementary School
371 students
- Meeker Element 361
Meeker Elementary School
361 students
What this shows Sawyer Elementary School reports 371 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sawyer Elementary School compares
Sawyer Elementary School 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 | 12.8:1 | ▼ 14% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.1% | ▼ 23% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 371 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
371
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 33% in Iowa - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
17.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,278
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 371 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.9%
African American 8.6%
Two or More 7.3%
Asian 7.0%
Largest group: White at 65.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.3, Sawyer Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
District finance for Ames Comm School District reports $13,278 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sawyer Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ames Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fellows Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Edwards Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meeker Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sawyer Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,033
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 489
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Ames
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Fellows Elementary School
Standard public school
489 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Edwards Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Meeker Elementary School
Standard public school
361 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Mitchell Elementary School
Standard public school
314 students 13.1:1 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 (~371 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sawyer Elementary School
How many students attend Sawyer Elementary School?
Sawyer Elementary School has 371 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ames, IA. CCD year-over-year: 367 (2022-23) → 375 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sawyer Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sawyer Elementary School is 12.8:1, which is 14% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 18% 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 Sawyer Elementary School?
28.1% of students at Sawyer Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sawyer Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sawyer Elementary School is White at 65.2% of enrollment, in Ames, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sawyer Elementary School?
Sawyer Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 Sawyer Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Ames?
By Resource Investment Index, Sawyer Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Ames, 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 Ames on the city page.
What other schools are in Ames Comm School District?
Besides Sawyer Elementary School, Ames Comm School District also operates Ames High School (1,440 students), Ames Middle School (1,033 students), and Fellows Elementary School (489 students). See the Ames Comm School District district page for the complete list.