- Enrollment
- 1,769
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Hampton, VA
Benjamin Syms Middle
Federal NCES profile for Benjamin Syms Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510180000730
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benjamin Syms Middle earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #5 of 5
- middle schools in Hampton · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 68.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Benjamin Syms Middle has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Syms Middle ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Hampton, VA.
School address
District: Hampton City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510180000730 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Benjamin Syms Middle held near 865 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-32 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 64.5 → 59.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-32 students YoY 510180000730 · Hampton, VA Middle · MID · TRAD
850 enr · 13.3:1 · 68.7% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Bethel High (1,769 students)
Benjamin Syms Middle held near 865 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-32 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 64.5 → 59.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Benjamin Syms Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Bethel High
Bethel High
1,769 students
- Kecoughtan Hig
Kecoughtan High
1,553 students
- George P. Phen
George P. Phenix Elementary
1,438 students
- Phoebus High
Phoebus High
1,391 students
- Hampton High
Hampton High
1,301 students
- This school
Benjamin Syms Middle
850 students
What this shows Benjamin Syms Middle reports 850 students on the CCD universe file.
How Benjamin Syms Middle compares
Benjamin Syms Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 4% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.7% | ▲ 19% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 850 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
850
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 42% in Virginia - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.6%
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
$15,034
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 425 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: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 49.9%
White 28.8%
Two or More 11.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 49.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.8, Benjamin Syms Middle is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Hampton City Public Schools reports $15,034 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Benjamin Syms Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kecoughtan High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| George P. Phenix Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Phoebus High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hampton High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benjamin Syms Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,553
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,438
- Students per teacher
- 9:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 1,391
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,301
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar middle schools in Hampton
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Cesar Tarrant Middle
Standard public school
737 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Francis W. Jones Magnet Middle
Standard public school
613 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
C. Alton Lindsay Middle
Standard public school
612 students 10.6:1 students per teacher
Thomas Eaton Middle
Standard public school
581 students 13.5:1 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 (~850 students)
Frequently asked questions about Benjamin Syms Middle
How many students attend Benjamin Syms Middle?
Benjamin Syms Middle has 850 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Hampton, VA. CCD year-over-year: 897 (2022-23) → 865 (2023-24), nearly flat (-32).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Syms Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Syms Middle is 13.3:1, which is 4% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Benjamin Syms Middle?
68.7% of students at Benjamin Syms Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benjamin Syms Middle?
The largest demographic group at Benjamin Syms Middle is African American at 49.9% of enrollment, in Hampton, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benjamin Syms Middle?
Benjamin Syms Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Benjamin Syms Middle rank among middle schools in Hampton?
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Syms Middle ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Hampton, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Hampton on the city page.
What other schools are in Hampton City Public Schools?
Besides Benjamin Syms Middle, Hampton City Public Schools also operates Bethel High (1,769 students), Kecoughtan High (1,553 students), and George P. Phenix Elementary (1,438 students). See the Hampton City Public Schools district page for the complete list.