Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 4 schools in district

Ballard Middle School

509 N Main Ave, Huxley, IA 50124Ballard Comm School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
432
Students
Total enrolled
$14,450
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
15.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 432 students in grades 06–08 in Huxley, Iowa.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,450 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
15.9 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is near the national average of 15.4:1.
About This School

Ballard Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Huxley, Iowa, serving grades 06–08 with 432 students. The district invests $14,450 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 15% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Ballard Middle School

432
Total Students
15.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
15%
Free Lunch
27
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution230 male · 202 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility15%
National avg 52% · 66 students
Student Composition
92%
White92%
Hispanic / Latino3%
Black3%
Multiracial1%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 190420000106

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,450Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,450
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,358
Student Support$2,745
Administration$1,734
Operations$2,167
Other$1,445
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,450 spent per student, an estimated $6,401 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
49%
43%
State government
49.5%
Local (property tax)
43.0%
Federal programs
7.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 15% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Ballard West ElementaryBallard East Elementary
↓
High School
Ballard High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyStory County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictBallard Comm School District →
Phone: (515)597-2815
NCES ID: 190420000106
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Huxley seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Ballard Comm School District
High
Ballard High School
545 students · 09–12
17% FRL
Elem
Ballard West Elementary
472 students · PK–02
● 54 opp17% FRL
Elem
Ballard East Elementary
422 students · 03–05
16% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
509 N Main Ave, Huxley, IA 50124
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.