- Enrollment
- 1,547
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lacey, WA
Aspire Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Aspire Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530585003280
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Aspire Middle School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Washington schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Lacey · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.1:1
- large classes for Washington
- 19.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Aspire Middle School has class sizes larger than 91% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Aspire Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Lacey, WA.
School address
District: North Thurston Public Schools · Washington
NCES ID 530585003280 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Aspire Middle School held near 306 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 14.7 → 15.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 530585003280 · Lacey, WA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
323 enr · 23.1:1 · 19.6% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: River Ridge High School (1,547 students)
Aspire Middle School held near 306 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 14.7 → 15.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Aspire Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- River Ridge Hi
River Ridge High School
1,547 students
- Timberline Hig
Timberline High School
1,401 students
- North Thurston
North Thurston High School
1,378 students
- Nisqually Midd
Nisqually Middle School
789 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Elementary
776 students
- This school 323
Aspire Middle School
323 students
What this shows Aspire Middle School reports 323 students on the CCD universe file.
How Aspire Middle School compares
Aspire Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.1:1 | ▲ 31% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.6% | ▼ 56% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 323 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.1:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
323
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23.1:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 91% in Washington - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
14.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$17,096
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 323 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 51.7%
Two or More 17.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.8%
Asian 6.2%
African American 5.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 51.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.8, Aspire Middle School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for North Thurston Public Schools reports $17,096 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Aspire Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Ridge High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Timberline High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Thurston High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Nisqually Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Aspire Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,401
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,378
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 789
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 776
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar middle schools in Lacey
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nisqually Middle School
Standard public school
789 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Chinook Middle School
Standard public school
746 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Salish Middle School
Standard public school
745 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Komachin Middle School
Standard public school
640 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~323 students)
Frequently asked questions about Aspire Middle School
How many students attend Aspire Middle School?
Aspire Middle School has 323 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lacey, WA. CCD year-over-year: 301 (2022-23) → 306 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Aspire Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Aspire Middle School is 23.1:1, which is 31% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 47% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Aspire Middle School?
19.6% of students at Aspire Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Aspire Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Aspire Middle School is White at 51.7% of enrollment, in Lacey, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Aspire Middle School?
Aspire Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Aspire Middle School rank among middle schools in Lacey?
By Resource Investment Index, Aspire Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Lacey, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Lacey on the city page.
What other schools are in North Thurston Public Schools?
Besides Aspire Middle School, North Thurston Public Schools also operates River Ridge High School (1,547 students), Timberline High School (1,401 students), and North Thurston High School (1,378 students). See the North Thurston Public Schools district page for the complete list.