Enrollment
267
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Marion, IA
Starry Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Starry Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191869001077
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Starry Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #7 of 7
- elementary schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 46.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Starry Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Starry Elementary School ranks #7 of 7 elementary schools in Marion, IA.
School address
District: Marion Independent School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191869001077 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.8%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Starry Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Starry Elementary School
Starry Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Marion, Iowa, enrolling 267 students.
At 14.1:1, 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.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 46.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 267 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Among 294 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Iowa schools statewide, it ranks #276, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (73%) and Two or More (12%) (diversity index 44/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 272 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Marion's elementary schools, it stands alongside Boulder Peak Intermediate School (613 students): Starry Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.1:1 vs 15.7:1).
Marion Independent School District also operates Marion High School (735 students) and Vernon Middle School (587 students) alongside Starry 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 Starry Elementary School compares
Starry 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 | 14.1:1 | ▼ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.8% | ▲ 29% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 267 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
267
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 52% in Iowa - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.6%
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
$12,964
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.1 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 73.0%
Two or More 12.4%
African American 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 6.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 73.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.2, Starry Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Marion Independent School District, which includes Starry Elementary School.
$12,964
Per student
+1%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.7%
State 43.1%
Federal 9.2%
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 Starry Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vernon Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Francis Marion Intermediate School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Starry Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 735
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 587
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 320
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 254
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar elementary schools in Marion
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Boulder Peak Intermediate School
Standard public school
613 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Vernon Middle School
Standard public school
587 students 14:1 students per teacher
Hazel Point Intermediate School
Standard public school
563 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Indian Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
354 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Novak Elementary School
Standard public school
347 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Francis Marion Intermediate School
Standard public school
320 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~267 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Starry Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Starry Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Marion Independent 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 Starry Elementary School
How many students attend Starry Elementary School?
Starry Elementary School has 267 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Marion, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Starry Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Starry Elementary School is 14.1:1, which is 5% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 10% 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 Starry Elementary School?
46.8% of students at Starry Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Starry Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Starry Elementary School is White at 73.0% of enrollment, in Marion, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Starry Elementary School?
Starry Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Starry Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Starry Elementary School ranks #7 of 7 elementary schools in Marion, 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 Marion on the city page.
Is Starry Elementary School a good school?
Starry Elementary School earns 36/100 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 Marion Independent School District?
Besides Starry Elementary School, Marion Independent School District also operates Marion High School (735 students), Vernon Middle School (587 students), and Francis Marion Intermediate School (320 students). See the Marion Independent 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.