Enrollment
545
Alaska · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Anchorage, AK
Central Middle School of Science
Federal NCES profile for Central Middle School of Science, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 020018000063
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 10
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Middle School of Science earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Alaska schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alaska schools.
- #5 of 9
- middle schools in Anchorage · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 80.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Middle School of Science has class sizes larger than 96% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Middle School of Science ranks #5 of 9 middle schools in Anchorage, AK.
School address
District: Anchorage School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020018000063 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
26:1
vs 15.2:1 Alaska avg
+71% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
80.1%
vs 61.5% Alaska avg
+30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Middle School of Science compares with Alaska and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Middle School of Science
Central Middle School of Science is a high-poverty, large middle school in Anchorage, Alaska, enrolling 545 students.
Class loads run heavy: 26:1 is larger than about 96% of Alaska schools and 71% above the 15.2:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 80.1% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Alaska, bigger than 91% of state schools at 545 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 495 scored Alaska schools.
Its student body is led by White (22%) and Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander (18%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 84/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 273 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 36.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Anchorage School District spends $17,200 per pupil, 48% below the Alaska average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 18.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Anchorage's middle schools, it stands alongside Romig Middle School (1,138 students): Central Middle School of Science is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (26:1 vs 29.2:1).
Anchorage School District also operates West High School (1,702 students) and Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School (1,636 students) alongside Central Middle School of Science.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Central Middle School of Science compares
Central Middle School of Science on the metrics families compare, against Alaska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26:1 | ▲ 71% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.1% | ▲ 30% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 545 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
545
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
80.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% above the Alaska average of 61.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
26:1
students per teacher
- 71% above state mean
Top 96% in Alaska - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
36.1%
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
$17,200
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alaska avg of $33,240
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 273 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 21.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 17.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 14.3%
Two or More 12.1%
African American 11.0%
Asian 7.3%
Largest group: White at 21.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 84.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 84.4, Central Middle School of Science is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Anchorage School District, which includes Central Middle School of Science.
$17,200
Per student
-48%
vs Alaska
Avg $33,240
+4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.8%
State 54.1%
Federal 18.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Central Middle School of Science Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Service High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bartlett High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dimond High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Middle School of Science's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,636
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,518
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,431
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,373
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Anchorage
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Romig Middle School
Standard public school
1,138 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Nicholas J. Begich Middle School
Standard public school
830 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Hanshew Middle School
Standard public school
822 students 30.4:1 students per teacher
Mears Middle School
Standard public school
733 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Clark Middle School
Standard public school
713 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Goldenview Middle School
Standard public school
626 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alaska, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~545 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Middle School of Science's federal record.
- Compare Central Middle School of Science against another school. Compare schools
- Anchorage School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Central Middle School of Science
How many students attend Central Middle School of Science?
Central Middle School of Science has 545 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Anchorage, AK.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Middle School of Science?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Middle School of Science is 26:1, which is 71% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 66% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Middle School of Science?
80.1% of students at Central Middle School of Science are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Middle School of Science?
The largest demographic group at Central Middle School of Science is White at 21.8% of enrollment, in Anchorage, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 84.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Middle School of Science?
Central Middle School of Science has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Middle School of Science rank among middle schools in Anchorage?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Middle School of Science ranks #5 of 9 middle schools in Anchorage, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Anchorage on the city page.
Is Central Middle School of Science a good school?
Central Middle School of Science earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Alaska schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alaska schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Anchorage School District?
Besides Central Middle School of Science, Anchorage School District also operates West High School (1,702 students), Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School (1,636 students), and Service High School (1,518 students). See the Anchorage School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.