Enrollment
526
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Madison, WI
Cherokee Heights Middle
Federal NCES profile for Cherokee Heights Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 550852000922
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cherokee Heights Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #11 of 12
- middle schools in Madison · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 42.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Cherokee Heights Middle has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cherokee Heights Middle ranks #11 of 12 middle schools in Madison, WI.
School address
District: Madison Metropolitan School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550852000922 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
42.7%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+11% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cherokee Heights Middle compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cherokee Heights Middle
Cherokee Heights Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Madison, Wisconsin, enrolling 526 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 42.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 526 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Against 339 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #212.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (41%) and White (37%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 263 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Madison's middle schools, it stands alongside Hamilton Middle (790 students): Cherokee Heights Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 15.5:1).
Madison Metropolitan School District also operates West High (2,222 students) and Vel Phillips Memorial High (2,004 students) alongside Cherokee Heights Middle.
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 Cherokee Heights Middle compares
Cherokee Heights Middle on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 1% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.7% | ▲ 11% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 526 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
526
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
42.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 62% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
45.2%
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
$17,181
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
33
in-school suspensions + 70 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
Hispanic or Latino 40.7%
White 37.1%
African American 10.9%
Two or More 7.1%
Asian 4.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, Cherokee Heights Middle is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Madison Metropolitan School District, which includes Cherokee Heights Middle.
$17,181
Per student
+15%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
+4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 72.6%
State 18.4%
Federal 9.0%
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 Cherokee Heights Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vel Phillips Memorial High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lafollette High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cherokee Heights Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,222
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,643
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,541
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar middle schools in Madison
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Hamilton Middle
Standard public school
790 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Sennett Middle
Standard public school
570 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Toki Middle
Standard public school
487 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Middle
Standard public school
462 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
O'keeffe Middle
Standard public school
434 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Whitehorse Middle
Standard public school
415 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~526 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cherokee Heights Middle's federal record.
- Compare Cherokee Heights Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Madison Metropolitan 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 Cherokee Heights Middle
How many students attend Cherokee Heights Middle?
Cherokee Heights Middle has 526 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Madison, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cherokee Heights Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Cherokee Heights Middle is 14.2:1, which is 1% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cherokee Heights Middle?
42.7% of students at Cherokee Heights Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cherokee Heights Middle?
The largest demographic group at Cherokee Heights Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 40.7% of enrollment, in Madison, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cherokee Heights Middle?
Cherokee Heights Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 Cherokee Heights Middle rank among middle schools in Madison?
By Resource Investment Index, Cherokee Heights Middle ranks #11 of 12 middle schools in Madison, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Madison on the city page.
Is Cherokee Heights Middle a good school?
Cherokee Heights Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin 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 Madison Metropolitan School District?
Besides Cherokee Heights Middle, Madison Metropolitan School District also operates West High (2,222 students), Vel Phillips Memorial High (2,004 students), and East High (1,643 students). See the Madison Metropolitan 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.