Mitchell Elementary School

Q: Is Mitchell Elementary School a good school?

Mitchell Elementary School ranks 189 th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Mitchell Elementary School is a public elementary school serving around 290 students in grades K-5 within the Ames Community School District in Ames, Iowa. The school consistently outperforms state and district averages on standardized tests, with 83.3% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 83.7% of 4th graders proficient or better in Math, compared to 69% and 72.7% statewide, respectively.

Mitchell Elementary has a lower student-teacher ratio than the district average, at 12 students per teacher, and a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch at 46.21%. The school has a strong track record of high rankings among Iowa elementary schools, placing 99th out of 565 in 2022-2023 and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. When compared to other elementary schools in the Ames district, Mitchell stands out for its diverse student population, excellent academic outcomes, and efficient resource utilization.

While Mitchell Elementary's student population is predominantly White, it also has significant populations of African American and Hispanic students. This diversity could be an asset, providing students with exposure to different cultures and perspectives. The school's consistent high performance and rankings suggest it is effectively meeting the educational needs of its diverse student body.

Detail:

Public K-5

3521 Jewel Dr
Ames, IA 50010

(515) 239-3775

District: Ames Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
189^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,211

Students who attend Mitchell Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Ames Middle School
High:	Ames High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.0

Number of students: 290

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.0%

African American:

18.3%

Hispanic:

11.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 46.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Mitchell Elementary School ranks better than 66.1% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 2^nd among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Ames Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 66.2. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Mitchell Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Ames Community School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mitchell Elementary School is $12,211. 2 elementary schools in the Ames Community School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Mitchell Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Ames Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ames Community School District 132^nd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Mitchell Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	61.31	261^st	626	58.3%
2013	47.87	406^th	624	34.9%
2014	73.86	121^st	603	79.9%
2015	71.87	156^th	616	74.7%
2016	81.67	52^nd	599	91.3%
2017	79.48	74^th	574	87.1%
2018	76.20	105^th	567	81.5%
2019	53.45	314^th	603	47.9%
2021	70.75	150^th	567	73.5%
2022	57.33	270^th	574	53.0%
2023	78.51	99^th	565	82.5%
2024	66.20	189^th	557	66.1%

See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Mitchell Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	269	10	22	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	309
1989	284	11	27	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	326
1990	303	13	17	10	2	n/a	n/a	0	345
1991	296	19	19	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	342
1992	309	10	10	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	340
1993	288	10	15	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	317
1994	265	15	10	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	296
1995	273	13	13	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	308
1996	273	13	13	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	308
1997	278	10	11	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	301
1998	274	13	9	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	299
1999	286	10	12	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	316
2000	320	7	12	2	0	n/a	n/a	-22	319
2001	273	9	13	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	302
2002	241	15	10	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	271
2003	241	15	10	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	271
2004	219	15	7	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	250
2005	201	16	4	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	230
2006	219	17	10	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	255
2007	207	21	9	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	247
2008	214	46	8	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	274
2009	220	43	11	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	287
2010	203	54	15	21	1	0	23	0	317
2011	192	45	11	23	0	0	20	0	291
2012	193	28	15	25	1	0	24	0	286
2013	188	32	15	20	0	0	24	0	279
2014	200	26	18	32	0	0	26	0	302
2015	188	21	14	38	0	0	25	0	286
2016	166	22	20	35	0	0	26	0	269
2017	188	30	15	40	0	0	18	0	291
2018	203	25	10	40	0	0	21	0	299
2019	214	33	10	42	0	1	17	0	317
2020	203	40	10	47	0	2	19	0	321
2021	191	49	6	38	0	1	21	0	306
2022	189	44	6	40	0	2	25	0	306
2023	171	53	10	33	0	0	23	0	290

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Mitchell Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	309	16.6	18.6	17.8
1989	326	15.6	20.8	19.6
1990	345	18.6	18.5	19.1
1991	342	18.3	18.6	20.5
1992	340	18.0	18.8	18.5
1993	317	16.0	19.8	18.3
1994	296	16.0	18.5	16.9
1995	308	17.5	17.6	14.3
1996	308	17.5	17.6	14.3
1997	301	18.0	16.7	13.6
1998	299	18.0	16.6	12
1999	316	18.0	17.6	15.8
2000	319	21.0	15.2	11.7
2001	302	17.0	17.8	11.6
2002	271	23.7	11.4	14.4
2003	271	23.7	11.4	14.4
2004	250	23.2	10.8	20
2005	230	20.1	11.4	23
2006	255	23.1	11.0	28.2
2007	247	24.6	10.0	29.1
2008	274	18.0	15.2	27.7
2009	287	23.0	12.5	41.5
2010	317	23.9	13.2	39.1
2011	291	23.7	12.2	40.5
2012	286	24.3	11.7	46.2
2013	279	24.0	11.6	50.2
2014	302	20.5	14.6	43.7
2015	286	21.0	13.6	43
2016	269	19.0	14.1	49.4
2017	291	21.0	13.8	50.5
2018	299	17.8	16.7	43.8
2019	317	20.2	15.6	47.6
2020	321	25.0	12.7	42.1
2021	306	23.8	12.8	45.4
2022	306	24.0	12.7	41.5
2023	290	24.0	12.0	46.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Mitchell Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	309	16.6	18.6	17.8
1989	326	15.6	20.8	19.6
1990	345	18.6	18.5	19.1
1991	342	18.3	18.6	20.5
1992	340	18.0	18.8	18.5
1993	317	16.0	19.8	18.3
1994	296	16.0	18.5	16.9
1995	308	17.5	17.6	14.3
1996	308	17.5	17.6	14.3
1997	301	18.0	16.7	13.6
1998	299	18.0	16.6	12
1999	316	18.0	17.6	15.8
2000	319	21.0	15.2	11.7
2001	302	17.0	17.8	11.6
2002	271	23.7	11.4	14.4
2003	271	23.7	11.4	14.4
2004	250	23.2	10.8	20
2005	230	20.1	11.4	23
2006	255	23.1	11.0	28.2
2007	247	24.6	10.0	29.1
2008	274	18.0	15.2	27.7
2009	287	23.0	12.5	41.5
2010	317	23.9	13.2	39.1
2011	291	23.7	12.2	40.5
2012	286	24.3	11.7	46.2
2013	279	24.0	11.6	50.2
2014	302	20.5	14.6	43.7
2015	286	21.0	13.6	43
2016	269	19.0	14.1	49.4
2017	291	21.0	13.8	50.5
2018	299	17.8	16.7	43.8
2019	317	20.2	15.6	47.6
2020	321	25.0	12.7	42.1
2021	306	23.8	12.8	45.4
2022	306	24.0	12.7	41.5
2023	290	24.0	12.0	46.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Mitchell Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$780 (6.4%)	$11,433 (93.6%)	$12,211

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Mitchell Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 314^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 99^th of 565 Elementary schools	34.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mitchell Elementary School)	64.6	74.5	9.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ames Community School District)	67.8	71.4	3.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mitchell Elementary School)	85.7	77.1	8.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ames Community School District)	74.5	76	1.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mitchell Elementary School)	63	85.4	22.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ames Community School District)	72.3	81.5	9.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mitchell Elementary School)	61.1	85.4	24.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ames Community School District)	70.6	77.2	6.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mitchell Elementary School)	72.9	87.9	15%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ames Community School District)	72.7	73	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mitchell Elementary School)	79.2	90.9	11.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ames Community School District)	73.4	69.7	3.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	317	290	8.5%
African American	33	53	60.6%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	10	10
Hispanic	42	33	21.4%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	214	171	20.1%
Two or More Races	17	23	35.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.6%	46.2%	1.4%

Schools Near Mitchell Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)			ISASP Mathematics (2024)			ISASP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Mitchell Elementary School	Public	K-5	3521 Jewel Dr	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3775	290	24	12.0	46.2%	171 (59.0%)	53 (18.3%)	33 (11.4%)	10 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.9%)	66.2	189^th of 557 public elementary schools	66.1%		78.5	99^th of 565 public elementary schools	82.5%	90	60.0	81.6	83.3	57.5	83.7	81.3	77.1	$12,211	$780	$11,433
Meeker Elementary School	Public	K-5	300 20th Street	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3770	351	30	11.7	37.6%	256 (72.9%)	26 (7.4%)	27 (7.7%)	6 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.4%)	63.8	216^th of 557 public elementary schools	61.2%		50.5	322^nd of 565 public elementary schools	43.0%	106	73.3	69.0	79.3	75.6	69.0	77.6	82.8	$13,221	$1,032	$12,190
Fellows Elementary School	Public	K-5	1235 20th St.	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 239-3765	528	42	12.5	26.5%	307 (58.1%)	29 (5.5%)	55 (10.4%)	93 (17.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (8.0%)	76.5	97^th of 557 public elementary schools	82.6%		79.8	80^th of 565 public elementary schools	85.8%	17	54.8	87.8	91.0	75.3	84.1	91.0	89.9	$12,124	$816	$11,308
Northwood Pre-School	Public	PK-K	3012 Duff Avenue	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 268-2470	254	12	21.2	29.1%	160 (63.0%)	29 (11.4%)	29 (11.4%)	14 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (8.7%)								(n/a)								$19,833	$304	$19,530
Edwards Elementary School	Public	K-5	820 Miller Ave	Ames	50014	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3760	450	31	14.3	38.4%	287 (63.8%)	61 (13.6%)	47 (10.4%)	27 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.2%)	56.2	288^th of 557 public elementary schools	48.3%		54.6	287^th of 565 public elementary schools	49.2%	1	81.7	68.7	72.6	80.0	67.5	71.0	64.5	$12,690	$743	$11,949
Sawyer Elementary School	Public	K-5	4316 Ontario St	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3790	367	29	12.4	30.8%	244 (66.5%)	33 (9.0%)	30 (8.2%)	20 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (10.6%)	52.9	313^th of 557 public elementary schools	43.8%		42.7	379^th of 565 public elementary schools	32.9%	66	43.5	71.7	76.9	68.1	73.3	72.3	73.8	$11,702	$347	$11,356
Ballard East Elementary	Public	3-5	505 W 4th St	Cambridge	50046	Story County	Ballard Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 220-4306	422	31	13.5	15.9%	386 (91.5%)	6 (1.4%)	20 (4.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.9%)	71.6	146^th of 557 public elementary schools	73.8%		78.9	92^nd of 565 public elementary schools	83.7%	54	62.0	81.7	76.7	85.4	85.2	83.3	69.3	$12,521	$249	$12,272
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	925 H Ave	Nevada	50201	Story County	Nevada Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 382-2383	608	46	13.2	27.6%	508 (83.6%)	3 (0.5%)	63 (10.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.1%)	73.1	124^th of 557 public elementary schools	77.7%		87	28^th of 565 public elementary schools	95.0%	96	64.2	79.5		89.9	89.7			$11,518	$1,130	$10,388
Gilbert Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	109 Rothmoor	Gilbert	50105	Story County	Gilbert Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 232-3744	410	23	17.9	7.8%	346 (84.4%)	4 (1.0%)	21 (5.1%)	18 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.1%)								(n/a)								$12,378	$377	$12,000
Gilbert Intermediate School	Public	3-5	103 Mathews Dr	Gilbert	50105	Story County	Gilbert Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 232-3748	341	21	15.9	10.3%	293 (85.9%)	5 (1.5%)	18 (5.3%)	19 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.8%)	92.8	4^th of 557 public elementary schools	99.3%		91	7^th of 565 public elementary schools	98.8%	3	90.6	92.7	87.8	94.9	95.5	91.9	87.8	$11,603	$317	$11,285

Frequently Asked Questions about Mitchell Elementary School

How many students attend Mitchell Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 290 students attended Mitchell Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Mitchell Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mitchell Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ames Middle School
High : Ames High School

What is the racial makeup of Mitchell Elementary School?

Students at Mitchell Elementary School are 59% White, 18% African American, 11% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What district is Mitchell Elementary School in?

Ames Community School District

Is Mitchell Elementary School a good school?

Mitchell Elementary School ranks 189^th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.