Enrollment
1,119
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Indianapolis, IN
Belzer Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Belzer Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180567001023
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Belzer Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #15 of 22
- middle schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 76.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Belzer Middle School has class sizes larger than 80% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Belzer Middle School ranks #15 of 22 middle schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Msd Lawrence Township · Indiana
NCES ID 180567001023 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
62.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
76.5%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+55% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Belzer Middle School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Belzer Middle School
Belzer Middle School is a high-poverty, large middle school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 1,119 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 76.5% of students qualify for free meals, 55% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 93% of state schools at 1,119 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 70 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #52, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 373 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 47.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 590 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,119 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Indianapolis's middle schools, it stands alongside Franklin Central Junior High (1,797 students): Belzer Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18:1 vs 21.4:1).
Msd Lawrence Township also operates Lawrence North High School (2,799 students) and Lawrence Central High School (2,517 students) alongside Belzer Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Belzer Middle School compares
Belzer Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 13% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.5% | ▲ 55% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,119 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,119
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
76.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 80% in Indiana - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.8%
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
$12,776
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 373 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
328
in-school suspensions + 262 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 29.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 52.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 52.4%
Hispanic or Latino 33.4%
White 6.9%
Two or More 6.3%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 52.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.5, Belzer Middle School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Msd Lawrence Township, which includes Belzer Middle School.
$12,776
Per student
+6%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.3%
State 56.7%
Federal 14.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Belzer Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence North High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lawrence Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fall Creek Valley Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Early Learning Center | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forest Glen Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Belzer Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,799
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,517
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,355
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,313
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 11/100
- Enrollment
- 971
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Franklin Central Junior High
Standard public school
1,797 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Fall Creek Valley Middle School
Standard public school
1,355 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
Southport Middle School
Standard public school
1,304 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Perry Meridian Middle School
Standard public school
1,278 students 16:1 students per teacher
Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center
Standard public school
1,143 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center
Standard public school
1,135 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,119 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Belzer Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Belzer Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Msd Lawrence Township's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Belzer Middle School
How many students attend Belzer Middle School?
Belzer Middle School has 1,119 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Belzer Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Belzer Middle School is 18:1, which is 13% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Belzer Middle School?
76.5% of students at Belzer Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Belzer Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Belzer Middle School is African American at 52.4% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Belzer Middle School?
Belzer Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Belzer Middle School rank among middle schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Belzer Middle School ranks #15 of 22 middle schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Belzer Middle School a good school?
Belzer Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Msd Lawrence Township?
Besides Belzer Middle School, Msd Lawrence Township also operates Lawrence North High School (2,799 students), Lawrence Central High School (2,517 students), and Fall Creek Valley Middle School (1,355 students). See the Msd Lawrence Township district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.