Enrollment
902
Missouri · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Independence, MO
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
Federal NCES profile for Clifford H. Nowlin Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 291548003090
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #4 of 5
- middle schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.7:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 67.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle has class sizes larger than 91% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Clifford H. Nowlin Middle ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Independence 30 · Missouri
NCES ID 291548003090 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
54.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.7:1
vs 12.8:1 Missouri avg
+30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.3%
vs 46.1% Missouri avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Clifford H. Nowlin Middle compares with Missouri and U.S. medians
What stands out at Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle is a higher-need, large middle school in Independence, Missouri, enrolling 902 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.7:1 is larger than about 91% of Missouri schools and 30% above the 12.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.3% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Missouri, bigger than 94% of state schools at 902 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 94% of the 2,313 Missouri schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 26 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Missouri schools statewide, it ranks #20, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (36%) and White (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 451 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 519 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 902 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Independence 30 also operates Truman High (1,720 students) and William Chrisman High (1,417 students) alongside Clifford H. Nowlin 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 Clifford H. Nowlin Middle compares
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle on the metrics families compare, against Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.7:1 | ▲ 30% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.3% | ▲ 46% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 902 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
902
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 91% in Missouri - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.4%
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
$11,956
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $12,931
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 451 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
315
in-school suspensions + 204 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 34.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 57.5 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
Hispanic or Latino 36.4%
White 35.0%
African American 16.7%
Two or More 10.1%
Asian 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.7, Clifford H. Nowlin Middle is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Independence 30, which includes Clifford H. Nowlin Middle.
$11,956
Per student
-8%
vs Missouri
Avg $12,931
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.9%
State 35.3%
Federal 21.8%
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 Clifford H. Nowlin Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Chrisman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Van Horn High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bridger Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pioneer Ridge Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Clifford H. Nowlin Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,417
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Missouri, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~902 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Clifford H. Nowlin Middle's federal record.
- Compare Clifford H. Nowlin Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Independence 30'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 Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
How many students attend Clifford H. Nowlin Middle?
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle has 902 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Independence, MO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Clifford H. Nowlin Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Clifford H. Nowlin Middle is 16.7:1, which is 30% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Clifford H. Nowlin Middle?
67.3% of students at Clifford H. Nowlin Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Clifford H. Nowlin Middle?
The largest demographic group at Clifford H. Nowlin Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 36.4% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Clifford H. Nowlin Middle?
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Clifford H. Nowlin Middle rank among middle schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Clifford H. Nowlin Middle ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Independence, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Independence on the city page.
Is Clifford H. Nowlin Middle a good school?
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri 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 Independence 30?
Besides Clifford H. Nowlin Middle, Independence 30 also operates Truman High (1,720 students), William Chrisman High (1,417 students), and Van Horn High (1,067 students). See the Independence 30 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.