- Enrollment
- 455
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Terra Bella, CA
Carl Smith Middle
Federal NCES profile for Carl Smith Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063906004200
👥 S:T ratio 13
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Carl Smith Middle earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Terra Bella · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.8:1
- students per teacher
- 93.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Carl Smith Middle has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Carl Smith Middle ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Terra Bella, CA.
School address
District: Terra Bella Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 063906004200 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Carl Smith Middle held near 273 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 12.5 → 12.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 063906004200 · Terra Bella, CA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
262 enr · 21.8:1 · 93.6% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Terra Bella Elementary (455 students)
Carl Smith Middle held near 273 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE held 12.5 → 12.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
How Carl Smith Middle compares
Carl Smith Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.8:1 | ▲ 1% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 93.6% | ▲ 69% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 262 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.8:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
262
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
93.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the California average of 55.5%
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
21.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 51% in California - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
14.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$20,638
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.3 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.7%
White 1.5%
Asian 0.4%
Two or More 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.5, Carl Smith Middle is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Terra Bella Union Elementary reports $20,638 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Carl Smith Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Bella Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Carl Smith Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~262 students)
Frequently asked questions about Carl Smith Middle
How many students attend Carl Smith Middle?
Carl Smith Middle has 262 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Terra Bella, CA. CCD year-over-year: 267 (2022-23) → 273 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carl Smith Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Carl Smith Middle is 21.8:1, which is 1% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Carl Smith Middle?
93.6% of students at Carl Smith Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Carl Smith Middle?
The largest demographic group at Carl Smith Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 97.7% of enrollment, in Terra Bella, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Carl Smith Middle?
Carl Smith Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (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 Carl Smith Middle rank among public schools in Terra Bella?
By Resource Investment Index, Carl Smith Middle ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Terra Bella, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Terra Bella Union Elementary?
Besides Carl Smith Middle, Terra Bella Union Elementary also operates Terra Bella Elementary (455 students). See the Terra Bella Union Elementary district page for the complete list.