- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
Taft Middle School held near 596 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 40.5 → 40.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+18 students YoY 190654000261 · Cedar Rapids, IA Middle · MID · TRAD
593 enr · 14.8:1 · 33.2% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students)
Taft Middle School held near 596 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount). Teacher FTE held 40.5 → 40.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Taft Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- John F Kennedy
John F Kennedy High School
1,648 students
- Thomas Jeffers
Thomas Jefferson High School
1,501 students
- George Washing
George Washington High School
1,182 students
- Harding Middle
Harding Middle School
710 students
- This school 593
Taft Middle School
593 students
- Viola Gibson E 565
Viola Gibson Elementary School
565 students
What this shows Taft Middle School reports 593 students on the CCD universe file.
How Taft Middle School compares
Taft Middle 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 | 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 methodology
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
$14,365
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
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.
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
District finance for Cedar Rapids Comm School District reports $14,365 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,501
- 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
Nationwide middle 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 (~593 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.8:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 578 (2022-23) → 596 (2023-24), nearly flat (+18).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.