Enrollment
252
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Van Meter, IA
Van Meter Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Van Meter Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 192901002244
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 84
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Van Meter Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Iowa schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Van Meter · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 50.4:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 5.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Van Meter Middle School has class sizes larger than 99% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Van Meter Middle School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Van Meter, IA.
School address
District: Van Meter Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192901002244 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
5.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
50.4:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+241% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
5.3%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-85% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Van Meter Middle School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Van Meter Middle School
Van Meter Middle School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Van Meter, Iowa, enrolling 252 students.
Class loads run heavy: 50.4:1 is larger than about 99% of Iowa schools and 241% above the 14.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 5.3% free-meal eligibility runs 85% below the Iowa average.
With 252 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Among 68 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Iowa schools statewide, it ranks #65, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (94% of enrollment) (diversity index 12/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.3% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Van Meter Comm School District spends $9,282 per pupil, 28% below the Iowa average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Van Meter Comm School District also operates Van Meter Elementary School (578 students) and Van Meter High School (316 students) alongside Van Meter 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 Van Meter Middle School compares
Van Meter 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 | 50.4:1 | ▲ 241% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.3% | ▼ 85% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 252 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
50.4:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
252
Bigger than 26% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
5.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 85% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
50.4:1
students per teacher
- 241% above state mean
Top 99% in Iowa - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
6.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$9,282
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
3
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 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 94.0%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
Two or More 2.4%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 94.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 11.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 11.5, Van Meter Middle School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Van Meter Comm School District, which includes Van Meter Middle School.
$9,282
Per student
-28%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.1%
State 45.5%
Federal 7.4%
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 Meter Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Meter Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Van Meter High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Van Meter Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 578
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 316
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 (~252 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Van Meter Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Van Meter Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Van Meter 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 Meter Middle School
How many students attend Van Meter Middle School?
Van Meter Middle School has 252 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Van Meter, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Meter Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Meter Middle School is 50.4:1, which is 241% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 221% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Van Meter Middle School?
5.3% of students at Van Meter Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Van Meter Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Van Meter Middle School is White at 94.0% of enrollment, in Van Meter, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Van Meter Middle School?
Van Meter Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical 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 Meter Middle School rank among public schools in Van Meter?
By Resource Investment Index, Van Meter Middle School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Van Meter, 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 Van Meter on the city page.
Is Van Meter Middle School a good school?
Van Meter Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% 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 Van Meter Comm School District?
Besides Van Meter Middle School, Van Meter Comm School District also operates Van Meter Elementary School (578 students) and Van Meter High School (316 students). See the Van Meter 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.