- Enrollment
- 372
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chariton, IA
Van Allen Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Van Allen Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190705000317
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Van Allen Elementary School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Chariton · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 46.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Van Allen Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Van Allen Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Chariton, IA.
School address
District: Chariton Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190705000317 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Van Allen Elementary School grew from 254 students in 2022-23 to 276 in 2023-24 (+8.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 18.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+22 students YoY 190705000317 · Chariton, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
292 enr · 15.4:1 · 46.5% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Chariton High School (372 students)
Van Allen Elementary School grew from 254 students in 2022-23 to 276 in 2023-24 (+8.7%). Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 18.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Van Allen Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Chariton High
Chariton High School
372 students
- Columbus Eleme
Columbus Elementary School
301 students
- This school
Van Allen Elementary School
292 students
- Chariton Middl
Chariton Middle School
284 students
What this shows Van Allen Elementary School reports 292 students on the CCD universe file.
How Van Allen Elementary School compares
Van Allen 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 | 15.4:1 | ▲ 4% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.5% | ▲ 28% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 292 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
292
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 71% in Iowa - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.2%
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
$12,441
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 89.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%
Two or More 2.1%
African American 0.3%
Largest group: White at 89.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.9, Van Allen Elementary School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Chariton Comm School District reports $12,441 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Van Allen Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chariton High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbus Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chariton Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Van Allen Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 301
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 284
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Chariton
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~292 students)
Frequently asked questions about Van Allen Elementary School
How many students attend Van Allen Elementary School?
Van Allen Elementary School has 292 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chariton, IA. CCD year-over-year: 254 (2022-23) → 276 (2023-24), up 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Allen Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Allen Elementary School is 15.4:1, which is 4% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Van Allen Elementary School?
46.5% of students at Van Allen Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Van Allen Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Van Allen Elementary School is White at 89.7% of enrollment, in Chariton, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Van Allen Elementary School?
Van Allen Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Van Allen Elementary School rank among public schools in Chariton?
By Resource Investment Index, Van Allen Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Chariton, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Chariton Comm School District?
Besides Van Allen Elementary School, Chariton Comm School District also operates Chariton High School (372 students), Columbus Elementary School (301 students), and Chariton Middle School (284 students). See the Chariton Comm School District district page for the complete list.