- Enrollment
- 4,411
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Herndon, VA
Carson Middle
Federal NCES profile for Carson Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510126001756
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Carson Middle earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Virginia schools.
- #2 of 14
- public schools in Herndon · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.2:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 13.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Carson Middle has class sizes larger than 84% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Carson Middle ranks #2 of 14 public schools in Herndon, VA.
School address
District: Fairfax County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510126001756 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Carson Middle held near 1,381 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 84.5 → 90.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+20 students YoY 510126001756 · Herndon, VA Middle · MID · TRAD
1,358 enr · 16.2:1 · 13.4% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students)
Carson Middle held near 1,381 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount). Teacher FTE added 84.5 → 90.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Carson Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lake Braddock
Lake Braddock Secondary
4,411 students
- Robinson Secon
Robinson Secondary
3,710 students
- Hayfield Secon
Hayfield Secondary
3,256 students
- Chantilly High
Chantilly High
2,937 students
- West Springfie
West Springfield High
2,799 students
- This school 1,358
Carson Middle
1,358 students
What this shows Carson Middle reports 1,358 students on the CCD universe file.
How Carson Middle compares
Carson 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 | 16.2:1 | ▲ 17% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.4% | ▼ 77% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,358 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,358
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 77% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 84% in Virginia - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
11.6%
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
$18,975
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 226 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
63
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Asian 43.0%
White 27.7%
African American 11.8%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%
Two or More 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.9, Carson Middle is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fairfax County Public Schools reports $18,975 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Carson Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Braddock Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Robinson Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hayfield Secondary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chantilly High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Springfield High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Carson Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,710
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 3,256
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 2,937
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,799
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar middle schools in Herndon
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~1,358 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Carson Middle
How many students attend Carson Middle?
Carson Middle has 1,358 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Herndon, VA. CCD year-over-year: 1,361 (2022-23) → 1,381 (2023-24), nearly flat (+20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carson Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Carson Middle is 16.2:1, which is 17% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Carson Middle?
13.4% of students at Carson Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Carson Middle?
The largest demographic group at Carson Middle is Asian at 43.0% of enrollment, in Herndon, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Carson Middle?
Carson Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 Carson Middle rank among public schools in Herndon?
By Resource Investment Index, Carson Middle ranks #2 of 14 public schools in Herndon, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Herndon on the city page.
What other schools are in Fairfax County Public Schools?
Besides Carson Middle, Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students), Robinson Secondary (3,710 students), and Hayfield Secondary (3,256 students). See the Fairfax County Public Schools district page for the complete list.