Enrollment
422
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Meridian, MS
Clarkdale High School
Federal NCES profile for Clarkdale High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 280243001348
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Clarkdale High School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median.
- #10 of 10
- schools in Meridian · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 12.1:1
- students per teacher
- 35.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Clarkdale High School has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Clarkdale High School ranks #10 of 10 schools in Meridian, MS.
School address
District: Lauderdale Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280243001348 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.3%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-56% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Clarkdale High School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Clarkdale High School
Clarkdale High School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Meridian, Mississippi, enrolling 422 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Mississippi schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 35.3% free-meal eligibility runs 56% below the Mississippi average.
With 422 students, its enrollment sits close to the Mississippi median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 877 Mississippi schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 35 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Mississippi schools statewide, it ranks #32, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (74%) and Two or More (12%) (diversity index 42/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 422 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Meridian's public schools, it stands alongside West Lauderdale Elementary School (761 students): Clarkdale High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.1:1 vs 15.9:1).
Lauderdale Co School Dist also operates West Lauderdale Elementary School (761 students) and Northeast Lauderdale Elementary (730 students) alongside Clarkdale High School.
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 Clarkdale High School compares
Clarkdale High School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.1:1 | ▼ 9% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.3% | ▼ 56% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 422 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
422
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 32% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
42.2%
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
$10,345
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 422 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.2 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
White 74.4%
Two or More 11.6%
African American 10.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: White at 74.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.2, Clarkdale High School is about as mixed as the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lauderdale Co School Dist, which includes Clarkdale High School.
$10,345
Per student
-14%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-38%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.1%
State 50.9%
Federal 19.0%
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 Clarkdale High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Lauderdale Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northeast Lauderdale Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northeast Lauderdale High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southeast Lauderdale Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Lauderdale Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Clarkdale High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 761
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 730
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 608
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 562
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 537
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Meridian
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
West Lauderdale Elementary School
Standard public school
761 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Northeast Lauderdale Elementary
Standard public school
730 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Southeast Lauderdale Elementary
Standard public school
562 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Clarkdale Elementary School
Standard public school
527 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
T J Harris Elementary
Standard public school
434 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
West Hills Elementary School
Standard public school
423 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~422 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Clarkdale High School's federal record.
- Compare Clarkdale High School against another school. Compare schools
- Lauderdale Co School Dist'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 Clarkdale High School
How many students attend Clarkdale High School?
Clarkdale High School has 422 students enrolled. It is a public school in Meridian, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Clarkdale High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Clarkdale High School is 12.1:1, which is 9% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 23% 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 Clarkdale High School?
35.3% of students at Clarkdale High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Clarkdale High School?
The largest demographic group at Clarkdale High School is White at 74.4% of enrollment, in Meridian, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Clarkdale High School?
Clarkdale High School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Clarkdale High School rank among schools in Meridian?
By Resource Investment Index, Clarkdale High School ranks #10 of 10 schools in Meridian, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Meridian on the city page.
Is Clarkdale High School a good school?
Clarkdale High School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. 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 Lauderdale Co School Dist?
Besides Clarkdale High School, Lauderdale Co School Dist also operates West Lauderdale Elementary School (761 students), Northeast Lauderdale Elementary (730 students), and Northeast Lauderdale High School (608 students). See the Lauderdale Co School Dist 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.