- Enrollment
- 1,333
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cedar Falls, IA
Southdale Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Southdale Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 190651000230
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southdale Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #6 of 10
- schools in Cedar Falls · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 20.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Southdale Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southdale Elementary School ranks #6 of 10 schools in Cedar Falls, IA.
School address
District: Cedar Falls Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190651000230 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+32 students YoY
Southdale Elementary School grew from 530 students in 2022-23 to 562 in 2023-24 (+6.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 39.9 → 37.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+32 students YoY 190651000230 · Cedar Falls, IA Other · MID · TRAD
539 enr · 13.8:1 · 20.4% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Cedar Falls High School (1,333 students)
Southdale Elementary School grew from 530 students in 2022-23 to 562 in 2023-24 (+6.0%). Teacher FTE lost 39.9 → 37.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Southdale Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cedar Falls Hi
Cedar Falls High School
1,333 students
- Peet Junior Hi
Peet Junior High School
695 students
- Holmes Junior
Holmes Junior High School
628 students
- Helen a Hansen
Helen a Hansen Elementary School
569 students
- This school
Southdale Elementary School
539 students
- Bess Streeter 472
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary
472 students
What this shows Southdale Elementary School reports 539 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southdale Elementary School compares
Southdale Elementary School is a growing 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.4% | ▼ 44% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 539 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
539
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 47% in Iowa - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
7.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,609
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 539 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 79.8%
Asian 6.1%
Two or More 5.9%
African American 4.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 79.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.3, Southdale Elementary School is about as mixed as the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cedar Falls Comm School District reports $11,609 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southdale Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Falls High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Peet Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Holmes Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Helen a Hansen Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southdale Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 695
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 628
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 472
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Cedar Falls
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Peet Junior High School
Standard public school
695 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Holmes Junior High School
Standard public school
628 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Helen a Hansen Elementary School
Standard public school
569 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary
Standard public school
472 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Orchard Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
458 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Cedar Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
451 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~539 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Southdale Elementary School
How many students attend Southdale Elementary School?
Southdale Elementary School has 539 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cedar Falls, IA. CCD year-over-year: 530 (2022-23) → 562 (2023-24), up 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southdale Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southdale Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 7% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 12% 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 Southdale Elementary School?
20.4% of students at Southdale Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southdale Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Southdale Elementary School is White at 79.8% of enrollment, in Cedar Falls, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southdale Elementary School?
Southdale Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 Southdale Elementary School rank among schools in Cedar Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Southdale Elementary School ranks #6 of 10 schools in Cedar Falls, 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 Falls on the city page.
What other schools are in Cedar Falls Comm School District?
Besides Southdale Elementary School, Cedar Falls Comm School District also operates Cedar Falls High School (1,333 students), Peet Junior High School (695 students), and Holmes Junior High School (628 students). See the Cedar Falls Comm School District district page for the complete list.