Enrollment
709
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Springfield, IL
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Benjamin Franklin Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 173708003814
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benjamin Franklin Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Springfield · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 709
- students enrolled
Benjamin Franklin Middle School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Franklin Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Springfield, IL.
School address
District: Springfield Sd 186 · Illinois
NCES ID 173708003814 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
52.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Benjamin Franklin Middle School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Benjamin Franklin Middle School is a large middle school in Springfield, Illinois, enrolling 709 students.
At 13.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Illinois median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Enrollment of 709 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by African American (41%) and White (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 55.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Springfield Sd 186 spends $20,525 per pupil, 20% above the Illinois average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 18.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 166 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 709 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 7 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Springfield's middle schools, it stands alongside Jefferson Middle School (517 students): Benjamin Franklin Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.7:1 vs 13.5:1).
Springfield Sd 186 also operates Springfield High School (1,308 students) and Springfield Southeast High Sch (1,229 students) alongside Benjamin Franklin 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 Benjamin Franklin Middle School compares
Benjamin Franklin Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 2% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 709 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
709
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 51% in Illinois - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
55.1%
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
$20,525
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 164 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Overview
Enrollment 709 Top 14% in Illinois - larger than 86% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 52.0
Students per teacher 13.7:1 -2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 173708003814
Student demographics
African American 40.7%
White 33.5%
Two or More 12.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%
Asian 6.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 40.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.8, Benjamin Franklin Middle School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Gifted & talented Yes
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 55.1%
In-school suspensions 2
Out-of-school suspensions 164
Expulsions 7
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Springfield Sd 186, which includes Benjamin Franklin Middle School.
$20,525
Per student
+20%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.0%
State 35.9%
Federal 18.1%
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 Benjamin Franklin Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Springfield Southeast High Sch | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lanphier High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Early Learning Center | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benjamin Franklin Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,308
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 1,229
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,117
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 549
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 517
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar middle schools in Springfield
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Jefferson Middle School
Standard public school
517 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Washington Middle School
Standard public school
516 students 10.2:1 students per teacher
U S Grant Middle School
Standard public school
498 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Magnet School
Standard public school
300 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Benjamin Franklin Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Benjamin Franklin Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Springfield Sd 186'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 Benjamin Franklin Middle School
How many students attend Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
Benjamin Franklin Middle School has 709 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Springfield, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Franklin Middle School is 13.7:1, which is 2% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Benjamin Franklin Middle School is African American at 40.7% of enrollment, in Springfield, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
Benjamin Franklin Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Benjamin Franklin Middle School rank among middle schools in Springfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Franklin Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Springfield, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Springfield on the city page.
Is Benjamin Franklin Middle School a good school?
Benjamin Franklin Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 Springfield Sd 186?
Besides Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Springfield Sd 186 also operates Springfield High School (1,308 students), Springfield Southeast High Sch (1,229 students), and Lanphier High School (1,117 students). See the Springfield Sd 186 district page for the complete list.