- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Fairfield, AL
C J Donald Middle School
Federal NCES profile for C J Donald Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010144000515
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
C J Donald Middle School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Alabama schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Fairfield · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28.7:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 84.6%
- free-lunch eligible
C J Donald Middle School has class sizes larger than 99% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, C J Donald Middle School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Fairfield, AL.
School address
District: Fairfield City · Alabama
NCES ID 010144000515 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
C J Donald Middle School shrank from 332 students in 2022-23 to 314 in 2023-24 (-5.4%).
Teacher FTE added 11.0 → 13.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-18 students YoY 010144000515 · Fairfield, AL Middle · SMALL · TRAD
316 enr · 28.7:1 · 84.6% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Fairfield High Preparatory School (519 students)
C J Donald Middle School shrank from 332 students in 2022-23 to 314 in 2023-24 (-5.4%). Teacher FTE added 11.0 → 13.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
C J Donald Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fairfield High
Fairfield High Preparatory School
519 students
- This school
C J Donald Middle School
316 students
- Glen Oaks Elem
Glen Oaks Elementary School
275 students
- Robinson Prima
Robinson Primary School
238 students
What this shows C J Donald Middle School reports 316 students on the CCD universe file.
How C J Donald Middle School compares
C J Donald Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 28.7:1 | ▲ 62% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.6% | ▲ 44% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 316 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28.7:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
316
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
84.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
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
28.7:1
students per teacher
- 62% above state mean
Top 99% in Alabama - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
25.3%
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
$15,550
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 316 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 95.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 95.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 9.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 9.0, C J Donald Middle School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
District finance for Fairfield City reports $15,550 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How C J Donald Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield High Preparatory School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Glen Oaks Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Robinson Primary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to C J Donald Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 275
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 238
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 (~316 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~28.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about C J Donald Middle School
How many students attend C J Donald Middle School?
C J Donald Middle School has 316 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Fairfield, AL. CCD year-over-year: 332 (2022-23) → 314 (2023-24), down 18.
What is the student-teacher ratio at C J Donald Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at C J Donald Middle School is 28.7:1, which is 62% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 83% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at C J Donald Middle School?
84.6% of students at C J Donald Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of C J Donald Middle School?
The largest demographic group at C J Donald Middle School is African American at 95.3% of enrollment, in Fairfield, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for C J Donald Middle School?
C J Donald Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 C J Donald Middle School rank among public schools in Fairfield?
By Resource Investment Index, C J Donald Middle School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Fairfield, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Fairfield City?
Besides C J Donald Middle School, Fairfield City also operates Fairfield High Preparatory School (519 students), Glen Oaks Elementary School (275 students), and Robinson Primary School (238 students). See the Fairfield City district page for the complete list.