- Enrollment
- 1,165
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Indianola, IA
Whittier Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Whittier Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 191464000876
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whittier Elementary School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Iowa schools.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Indianola · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 27.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Whittier Elementary School has class sizes larger than 77% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Indianola, IA.
School address
District: Indianola Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191464000876 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Whittier Elementary School held near 397 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 23.1 → 22.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 191464000876 · Indianola, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
369 enr · 16:1 · 27.3% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Indianola High School (1,165 students)
Whittier Elementary School held near 397 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 23.1 → 22.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Whittier Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Indianola High
Indianola High School
1,165 students
- Indianola Midd
Indianola Middle School
818 students
- Wilder Element 456
Wilder Elementary School
456 students
- Emerson Elemen 396
Emerson Elementary School
396 students
- Irving Element 395
Irving Elementary School
395 students
- This school 369
Whittier Elementary School
369 students
What this shows Whittier Elementary School reports 369 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whittier Elementary School compares
Whittier Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 8% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.3% | ▼ 25% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 369 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
369
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
16:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 77% in Iowa - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,822
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 369 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 85.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.6%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 0.5%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 85.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.8, Whittier Elementary School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Indianola Comm School District reports $11,822 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Whittier Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianola High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indianola Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wilder Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Emerson Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Irving Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whittier Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 456
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 395
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Nationwide other 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 (~369 students)
Frequently asked questions about Whittier Elementary School
How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?
Whittier Elementary School has 369 students enrolled. It is a public school in Indianola, IA. CCD year-over-year: 417 (2022-23) → 397 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary School is 16:1, which is 8% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Whittier Elementary School?
27.3% of students at Whittier Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whittier Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Whittier Elementary School is White at 85.6% of enrollment, in Indianola, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whittier Elementary School?
Whittier Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Whittier Elementary School rank among public schools in Indianola?
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Indianola, 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 Indianola on the city page.
What other schools are in Indianola Comm School District?
Besides Whittier Elementary School, Indianola Comm School District also operates Indianola High School (1,165 students), Indianola Middle School (818 students), and Wilder Elementary School (456 students). See the Indianola Comm School District district page for the complete list.