- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Port Townsend, WA
Blue Heron Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Blue Heron Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530684001305
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Blue Heron Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Washington schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Port Townsend · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.3:1
- small classes for Washington
- 38.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Blue Heron Middle School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Blue Heron Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Port Townsend, WA.
School address
District: Port Townsend School District · Washington
NCES ID 530684001305 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-43 students YoY
Blue Heron Middle School shrank from 265 students in 2022-23 to 222 in 2023-24 (-16.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 18.3 → 17.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-43 students YoY 530684001305 · Port Townsend, WA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
222 enr · 12.3:1 · 38.1% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Salish Coast Elementary (528 students)
Blue Heron Middle School shrank from 265 students in 2022-23 to 222 in 2023-24 (-16.2%). Teacher FTE lost 18.3 → 17.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Blue Heron Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Salish Coast E
Salish Coast Elementary
528 students
- Port Townsend
Port Townsend High School
383 students
- This school
Blue Heron Middle School
222 students
- Ocean 144
Ocean
144 students
What this shows Blue Heron Middle School reports 222 students on the CCD universe file.
How Blue Heron Middle School compares
Blue Heron Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.3:1 | ▼ 30% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.1% | ▼ 15% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 222 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
222
Bigger than 22% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 30% below state mean
Top 12% in Washington - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.7%
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
$18,800
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 222 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 76.1%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
Two or More 5.9%
Asian 3.6%
African American 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: White at 76.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.3, Blue Heron Middle School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Port Townsend School District reports $18,800 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Blue Heron Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salish Coast Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Port Townsend High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ocean | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Blue Heron Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 383
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 144
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
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 (~222 students)
Frequently asked questions about Blue Heron Middle School
How many students attend Blue Heron Middle School?
Blue Heron Middle School has 222 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Port Townsend, WA. CCD year-over-year: 265 (2022-23) → 222 (2023-24), down 43.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Blue Heron Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Blue Heron Middle School is 12.3:1, which is 30% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 22% 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 Blue Heron Middle School?
38.1% of students at Blue Heron Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Blue Heron Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Blue Heron Middle School is White at 76.1% of enrollment, in Port Townsend, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Blue Heron Middle School?
Blue Heron Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Blue Heron Middle School rank among public schools in Port Townsend?
By Resource Investment Index, Blue Heron Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Port Townsend, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Port Townsend School District?
Besides Blue Heron Middle School, Port Townsend School District also operates Salish Coast Elementary (528 students), Port Townsend High School (383 students), and Ocean (144 students). See the Port Townsend School District district page for the complete list.