- Enrollment
- 2,134
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Mcallen, TX
Cathey Middle
Federal NCES profile for Cathey Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 482967008845
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cathey Middle earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #4 of 7
- middle schools in Mcallen · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- students per teacher
- 68.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Cathey Middle has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cathey Middle ranks #4 of 7 middle schools in Mcallen, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Cathey Middle held near 829 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 55.9 → 52.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 482967008845 · Mcallen, TX Middle · MID · TRAD
827 enr · 15:1 · 68.8% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcallen H S (2,134 students)
Cathey Middle held near 829 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 55.9 → 52.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Cathey Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mcallen H S
Mcallen H S
2,134 students
- Memorial H S
Memorial H S
2,021 students
- Rowe H S
Rowe H S
1,905 students
- Morris Middle
Morris Middle
999 students
- This school 827
Cathey Middle
827 students
- Gonzalez El 818
Gonzalez El
818 students
What this shows Cathey Middle reports 827 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cathey Middle compares
Cathey Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▲ 2% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.8% | ▲ 11% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 827 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
827
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 59% in Texas - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,409
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 414 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
101
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 93.5%
White 4.2%
Asian 1.5%
African American 0.5%
Two or More 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 93.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.4, Cathey Middle is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mcallen Isd reports $13,409 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cathey Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcallen H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Memorial H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rowe H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Morris Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gonzalez El | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cathey Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,021
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
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 (~827 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cathey Middle
How many students attend Cathey Middle?
Cathey Middle has 827 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Mcallen, TX. CCD year-over-year: 821 (2022-23) → 829 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cathey Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Cathey Middle is 15:1, which is 2% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cathey Middle?
68.8% of students at Cathey Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cathey Middle?
The largest demographic group at Cathey Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 93.5% of enrollment, in Mcallen, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cathey Middle?
Cathey Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Cathey Middle rank among middle schools in Mcallen?
By Resource Investment Index, Cathey Middle ranks #4 of 7 middle schools in Mcallen, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Mcallen on the city page.
What other schools are in Mcallen Isd?
Besides Cathey Middle, Mcallen Isd also operates Mcallen H S (2,134 students), Memorial H S (2,021 students), and Rowe H S (1,905 students). See the Mcallen Isd district page for the complete list.