Enrollment
593
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cedar Rapids, IA
Taft Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Taft Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 190654000261
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Taft Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #2 of 7
- middle schools in Cedar Rapids · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 33.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Taft Middle School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Taft Middle School ranks #2 of 7 middle schools in Cedar Rapids, IA.
School address
District: Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190654000261 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+0% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
33.2%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-9% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Taft Middle School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Taft Middle School
Taft Middle School is a large middle school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, enrolling 593 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 33.2% lands close to the Iowa typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 593 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 251 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #91.
Its student body is led by White (67%) and African American (14%) (diversity index 52/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 300 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 124 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 593 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Cedar Rapids's middle schools, it stands alongside Harding Middle School (710 students): Taft Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.8:1 vs 15.4:1).
Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students) and Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students) alongside Taft Middle 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 Taft Middle School compares
Taft Middle 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 | 14.8:1 | ▼ 0% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.2% | ▼ 9% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 593 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
593
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
33.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% 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
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 63% in Iowa - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.5%
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
$13,962
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $12,854
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 299 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
79
in-school suspensions + 45 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.9 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 66.6%
African American 13.8%
Two or More 10.6%
Hispanic or Latino 6.4%
Asian 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 66.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.2, Taft Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cedar Rapids Comm School District, which includes Taft Middle School.
$13,962
Per student
+9%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.7%
State 48.5%
Federal 13.9%
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 Taft Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John F Kennedy High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Harding Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Viola Gibson Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Taft Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,501
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 710
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools in Cedar Rapids
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Harding Middle School
Standard public school
710 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy
Standard public school
484 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Franklin Middle School
Standard public school
469 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Mckinley Steam Academy
Standard public school
426 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Wilson Middle School
Standard public school
422 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy
Standard public school
47 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~593 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Taft Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Taft Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Cedar Rapids 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 Taft Middle School
How many students attend Taft Middle School?
Taft Middle School has 593 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Taft Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Taft Middle School is 14.8:1, which is 0% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Taft Middle School?
33.2% of students at Taft Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Taft Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Taft Middle School is White at 66.6% of enrollment, in Cedar Rapids, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Taft Middle School?
Taft Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Taft Middle School rank among middle schools in Cedar Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Taft Middle School ranks #2 of 7 middle 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 middle schools in Cedar Rapids on the city page.
Is Taft Middle School a good school?
Taft Middle School earns 46/100 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 Cedar Rapids Comm School District?
Besides Taft Middle School, Cedar Rapids Comm School District also operates John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students), Thomas Jefferson High School (1,501 students), and George Washington High School (1,182 students). See the Cedar Rapids 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.