At a glance
Reported students
376
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
27.79
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
13.5:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
PK–KG
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Iowa elementary enrollment
62nd percentile
Compared with 663 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
376
Early Childhood Center: 376 reported students.
State peer staffing position
55th percentile
13.5:1 reported; state peer median 13.3:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 279
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24.9
- Student–teacher ratio
- 11.2:1
What the reported data says about Early Childhood Center
Early Childhood Center is a public elementary school serving grades PK–KG in Fort Dodge. It is one of 7 current school records connected to Fort Dodge Comm School District. NCES reports 376 students for 2024–25.
Among 663 elementary schools in Iowa with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 322 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 62nd percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 13.5:1, close to the Iowa median of 13.3:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (63%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%). English learners represent 6.1% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 10.4%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Early Childhood Center
- 1How do the reported 13.5:1 student–teacher ratio and 27.79 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 1 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 6.1%
- Students with disabilities
- 10.4%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 42%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 1
- Nurses (FTE)
- 1
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White63%
- Hispanic17%
- Black7.4%
- Asian0.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial12.2%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Fort Dodge Comm School District
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Butler Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 01–05
328 reported students
Duncombe Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 01–05
438 reported students
Cooper Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 01–05
231 reported students
Feelhaver Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 01–05
227 reported students
Fort Dodge Middle School
Middle · Grades 06–08
765 reported students
Fort Dodge High School
High · Grades 09–12
1,020 reported students
Public schools near Early Childhood Center
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duncombe Elementary School Elementary · Fort Dodge Comm School District | 01–05 | 438 | 0.5 mi |
| Butler Elementary School Elementary · Fort Dodge Comm School District | 01–05 | 328 | 0.7 mi |
| Fort Dodge High School High · Fort Dodge Comm School District | 09–12 | 1,020 | 0.9 mi |
| Cooper Elementary School Elementary · Fort Dodge Comm School District | 01–05 | 231 | 1.2 mi |
| Feelhaver Elementary School Elementary · Fort Dodge Comm School District | 01–05 | 227 | 1.3 mi |
| Manson Northwest Webster Elementary Elementary · Manson Northwest Webster Comm School District | PK–06 | 439 | 9.5 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Early Childhood Center
What grades does Early Childhood Center serve?
Early Childhood Center reports grades PK–KG in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in Fort Dodge Comm School District.
How many students attend Early Childhood Center?
Early Childhood Center reported 376 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 62nd percentile among 663 Iowa elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 279 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Early Childhood Center?
The calculated ratio is 13.5:1, based on 376 students and 27.79 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Iowa median for the same school level is 13.3:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Early Childhood Center a public, charter, or magnet school?
Early Childhood Center is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Fort Dodge Comm School District attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Early Childhood Center students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
42% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Early Childhood Center in?
Early Childhood Center is part of Fort Dodge Comm School District, based in Fort Dodge, IA, which operates 7 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Early Childhood Center?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Duncombe Elementary School (0.5 mi), Butler Elementary School (0.7 mi), Fort Dodge High School (0.9 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.