Enrollment
292
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.5%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Van Allen Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Van Allen Elementary School
Van Allen Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Chariton, Iowa, enrolling 292 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 46.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 292 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 316 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #102.
Its student body is predominantly White (90% of enrollment) (diversity index 19/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.2% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Chariton's elementary schools, it stands alongside Columbus Elementary School (301 students): Van Allen Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.4:1 vs 15.1:1).
Chariton Comm School District also operates Chariton High School (372 students) and Columbus Elementary School (301 students) alongside Van Allen 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 Van Allen Elementary School compares
Van Allen 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,346
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chariton Comm School District, which includes Van Allen Elementary School.
$12,346
Per student
-4%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.4%
State 57.7%
Federal 11.9%
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 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
- 372
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- 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.
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 (~292 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Van Allen Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Van Allen Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Chariton 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 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.
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, attendance rates. 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. See all public schools in Chariton on the city page.
Is Van Allen Elementary School a good school?
Van Allen Elementary School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools. 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 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.
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.