- Enrollment
- 1,923
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Golden, CO
Bell Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Bell Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080480000698
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bell Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Colorado schools.
- #11 of 16
- public schools in Golden · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.4:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 25.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Bell Middle School has class sizes larger than 82% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Middle School ranks #11 of 16 public schools in Golden, CO.
School address
District: Jefferson County School District No. R-1 · Colorado
NCES ID 080480000698 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Bell Middle School held near 751 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 40.8 → 40.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+20 students YoY 080480000698 · Golden, CO Middle · MID · TRAD
774 enr · 19.4:1 · 25.6% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Arvada West High School (1,923 students)
Bell Middle School held near 751 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 40.8 → 40.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Bell Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arvada West Hi
Arvada West High School
1,923 students
- Ralston Valley
Ralston Valley Senior High School
1,875 students
- Chatfield High
Chatfield High School
1,808 students
- Lakewood High
Lakewood High School
1,735 students
- Columbine High
Columbine High School
1,710 students
- This school
Bell Middle School
774 students
What this shows Bell Middle School reports 774 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bell Middle School compares
Bell Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.4:1 | ▲ 17% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.6% | ▼ 34% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 774 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.4:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
774
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.4:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 82% in Colorado - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
39.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,483
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 258 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
54
in-school suspensions + 53 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 73.5%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%
Two or More 5.2%
African American 1.8%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 73.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.6, Bell Middle School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Jefferson County School District No. R-1 reports $14,483 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bell Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arvada West High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ralston Valley Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chatfield High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lakewood High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbine High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bell Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,875
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,808
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,735
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,710
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
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 (~774 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bell Middle School
How many students attend Bell Middle School?
Bell Middle School has 774 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Golden, CO. CCD year-over-year: 731 (2022-23) → 751 (2023-24), nearly flat (+20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bell Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bell Middle School is 19.4:1, which is 17% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bell Middle School?
25.6% of students at Bell Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bell Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Bell Middle School is White at 73.5% of enrollment, in Golden, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bell Middle School?
Bell Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Bell Middle School rank among public schools in Golden?
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Middle School ranks #11 of 16 public schools in Golden, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Golden on the city page.
What other schools are in Jefferson County School District No. R-1?
Besides Bell Middle School, Jefferson County School District No. R-1 also operates Arvada West High School (1,923 students), Ralston Valley Senior High School (1,875 students), and Chatfield High School (1,808 students). See the Jefferson County School District No. R-1 district page for the complete list.