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B−

Ames Community School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12

Serves Ames.

Ames’ School Grade B− better than 54% of Iowa school districts

Students
4,688
Schools
8
Spent per student
$13,699
IA $13,713
Students per teacher
14:1
Free or reduced lunch
35%
Debt
$90.2M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Ames Community School District

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 54% of Iowa districts
  • Math proficiency 6 pts above the state
  • 14 students per teacher
  • Debt of $90.2M, about $19,230 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 54% of the 326 Iowa school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math above the state, 2021–22
B
GraduationFour-year graduation above the state, class of 2023
B−
The town it serves, and its School Grade
B−Ames 68,220

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Ames. Grade by grade →

K–55 elementary schoolsThis district
6–8Ames Middle SchoolThis district
9–12Ames High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. IA

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency70%
State average 63.8% · 2,907 students tested
Reading / language arts73%
State average 69.7% · 2,875 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 87.5% · 327 in the class

95% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$13,699 per student · 0% below IA
Spending
Classroom instruction 61%Support & administration 35%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 58%State 36%Federal 6%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
4,681’20
4,788’21
4,645’22
4,701’23
4,688’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 61%Hispanic 13%Black 10%Asian 8%Two or more races 7%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

8 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools.

Northwood Pre-School
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Ames
244 students22:1
Fellows Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Ames
A−
489 students13:1
Edwards Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Ames
B−
436 students13:1
Sawyer Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Ames
C
371 students11:1
Meeker Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Ames
C
361 students11:1
Mitchell Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Ames
B−
314 students13:1
Ames Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ames
B
1,033 students15:1
Ames High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ames
B+
1,440 students18:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Nevada Community School DistrictNevada
$12,560per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Iowa.