Enrollment
661
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Spanaway, WA
Bethel Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Bethel Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530048000120
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bethel Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Spanaway · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20:1
- large classes for Washington
- 54.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Bethel Middle School has class sizes larger than 78% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bethel Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Spanaway, WA.
School address
District: Bethel School District · Washington
NCES ID 530048000120 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
54.1%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Bethel Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Bethel Middle School
Bethel Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Spanaway, Washington, enrolling 661 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 54.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 661 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 388 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #126.
Its student body is led by White (35%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 307 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Bethel School District spends $15,195 per pupil, 22% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 173 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 661 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Spanaway's middle schools, it stands alongside Liberty Middle School (857 students): Bethel Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20:1 vs 20.9:1).
Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students) and Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students) alongside Bethel 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 Bethel Middle School compares
Bethel Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 14% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.1% | ▲ 20% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 661 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
661
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
54.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 78% in Washington - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
18.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,195
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.2 FTE
Per 307 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 172 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
White 34.5%
Hispanic or Latino 26.6%
Two or More 19.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 8.3%
African American 7.7%
Asian 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 34.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.9, Bethel Middle School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bethel School District, which includes Bethel Middle School.
$15,195
Per student
-22%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.6%
State 66.9%
Federal 8.5%
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 Bethel Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Kapowsin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Lake High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bethel High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bethel Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,787
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,688
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Spanaway
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~661 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Bethel Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Bethel Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Bethel School District'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 Bethel Middle School
How many students attend Bethel Middle School?
Bethel Middle School has 661 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Spanaway, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bethel Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bethel Middle School is 20:1, which is 14% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bethel Middle School?
54.1% of students at Bethel Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bethel Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Bethel Middle School is White at 34.5% of enrollment, in Spanaway, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bethel Middle School?
Bethel Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical 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 Bethel Middle School rank among middle schools in Spanaway?
By Resource Investment Index, Bethel Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Spanaway, 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 Spanaway on the city page.
Is Bethel Middle School a good school?
Bethel Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington 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 Bethel School District?
Besides Bethel Middle School, Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students), Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students), and Bethel High School (1,688 students). See the Bethel School District 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.