- Enrollment
- 735
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Marion, IA
Vernon Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Vernon Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191869001078
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vernon Middle School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #5 of 7
- elementary schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 32.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Vernon Middle School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vernon Middle School ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Marion, IA.
School address
District: Marion Independent School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191869001078 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-47 students YoY
Vernon Middle School shrank from 668 students in 2022-23 to 621 in 2023-24 (-7.0%).
Teacher FTE added 42.7 → 43.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-47 students YoY 191869001078 · Marion, IA Elementary · MID · TRAD
587 enr · 14:1 · 32.9% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Marion High School (735 students)
Vernon Middle School shrank from 668 students in 2022-23 to 621 in 2023-24 (-7.0%). Teacher FTE added 42.7 → 43.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Vernon Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Marion High Sc
Marion High School
735 students
- This school
Vernon Middle School
587 students
- Francis Marion
Francis Marion Intermediate School
320 students
- Starry Element 267
Starry Elementary School
267 students
- Longfellow Ele 254
Longfellow Elementary
254 students
What this shows Vernon Middle School reports 587 students on the CCD universe file.
How Vernon Middle School compares
Vernon Middle School is a shrinking 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 | 14:1 | ▼ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.9% | ▼ 10% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 587 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
587
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% 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
14:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 50% in Iowa - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
33.0%
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
$13,528
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 294 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
41
in-school suspensions + 189 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 39.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.1%
Two or More 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino 6.5%
African American 5.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 80.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.7, Vernon Middle School is about as mixed as the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Marion Independent School District reports $13,528 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Vernon Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Francis Marion Intermediate School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Starry Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vernon Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 320
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 267
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 254
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar elementary schools in Marion
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Boulder Peak Intermediate School
Standard public school
613 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Hazel Point Intermediate School
Standard public school
563 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Indian Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
354 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Novak Elementary School
Standard public school
347 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Francis Marion Intermediate School
Standard public school
320 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Starry Elementary School
Standard public school
267 students 14.1:1 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 (~587 students)
Frequently asked questions about Vernon Middle School
How many students attend Vernon Middle School?
Vernon Middle School has 587 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Marion, IA. CCD year-over-year: 668 (2022-23) → 621 (2023-24), down 47.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vernon Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Vernon Middle School is 14:1, which is 5% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 11% 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 Vernon Middle School?
32.9% of students at Vernon Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vernon Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Vernon Middle School is White at 80.1% of enrollment, in Marion, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vernon Middle School?
Vernon Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Vernon Middle School rank among elementary schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Vernon Middle School ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Marion, 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 Marion on the city page.
What other schools are in Marion Independent School District?
Besides Vernon Middle School, Marion Independent School District also operates Marion High School (735 students), Francis Marion Intermediate School (320 students), and Starry Elementary School (267 students). See the Marion Independent School District district page for the complete list.