- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Cedar Rapids, IA
Van Buren Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Van Buren Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190654000266
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Van Buren Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #13 of 13
- elementary schools in Cedar Rapids · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 75.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Van Buren Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Van Buren Elementary School ranks #13 of 13 elementary schools in Cedar Rapids, IA.
School address
District: Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190654000266 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+44 students YoY
Van Buren Elementary School grew from 365 students in 2022-23 to 409 in 2023-24 (+12.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 30.7 → 28.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+44 students YoY 190654000266 · Cedar Rapids, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
429 enr · 14.3:1 · 75.6% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: John F Kennedy High School (1,648 students)
Van Buren Elementary School grew from 365 students in 2022-23 to 409 in 2023-24 (+12.1%). Teacher FTE lost 30.7 → 28.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Van Buren Elementary 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
- Taft Middle Sc 593
Taft Middle School
593 students
- This school 429
Van Buren Elementary School
429 students
What this shows Van Buren Elementary School reports 429 students on the CCD universe file.
How Van Buren Elementary School compares
Van Buren 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 | 14.3:1 | ▼ 3% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.6% | ▲ 108% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 429 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
429
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 108% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 56% in Iowa - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
35.2%
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
$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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 46.2%
Hispanic or Latino 25.2%
White 22.1%
Two or More 4.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.4%
Asian 0.9%
Largest group: African American at 46.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.2, Van Buren Elementary 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 Van Buren Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John F Kennedy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Harding Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Taft Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Van Buren Elementary 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
- 593
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Cedar Rapids
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Prairie Creek
Standard public school
846 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Hoover Elementary School
Standard public school
420 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Pierce Elementary School
Standard public school
334 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Johnson Steam Academy School
Standard public school
324 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Grant Elementary School
Standard public school
312 students 13:1 students per teacher
Erskine Elementary School
Standard public school
308 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
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 (~429 students)
Frequently asked questions about Van Buren Elementary School
How many students attend Van Buren Elementary School?
Van Buren Elementary School has 429 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Cedar Rapids, IA. CCD year-over-year: 365 (2022-23) → 409 (2023-24), up 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School is 14.3:1, which is 3% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 9% 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 Van Buren Elementary School?
75.6% of students at Van Buren Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Van Buren Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Van Buren Elementary School is African American at 46.2% of enrollment, in Cedar Rapids, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Van Buren Elementary School?
Van Buren Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Van Buren Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Cedar Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Van Buren Elementary School ranks #13 of 13 elementary 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 elementary schools in Cedar Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Cedar Rapids Comm School District?
Besides Van Buren Elementary 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.