- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Decatur, AL
Decatur Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Decatur Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010117000433
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Decatur Middle School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #15 of 20
- public schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 71.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Decatur Middle School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur Middle School ranks #15 of 20 public schools in Decatur, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
Decatur Middle School held near 792 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 54.5 → 53.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-23 students YoY 010117000433 · Decatur, AL Middle · MID · TRAD
818 enr · 15.1:1 · 71.3% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Austin High School (999 students)
Decatur Middle School held near 792 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 54.5 → 53.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Decatur Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Austin High Sc
Austin High School
999 students
- Decatur High S
Decatur High School
915 students
- This school
Decatur Middle School
818 students
- Austin Middle
Austin Middle School
727 students
- Austin Junior
Austin Junior High School
664 students
- Oak Park Eleme
Oak Park Elementary School
481 students
What this shows Decatur Middle School reports 818 students on the CCD universe file.
How Decatur Middle School compares
Decatur Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▼ 15% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.3% | ▲ 21% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 818 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
818
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 18% in Alabama - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.7%
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
$14,832
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 409 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
271
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 33.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 37.7%
White 32.2%
African American 23.8%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 37.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Decatur Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Decatur City reports $14,832 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Decatur Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Austin Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Austin Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oak Park Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Decatur Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 915
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 664
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 481
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools in Decatur
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~818 students)
Frequently asked questions about Decatur Middle School
How many students attend Decatur Middle School?
Decatur Middle School has 818 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Decatur, AL. CCD year-over-year: 815 (2022-23) → 792 (2023-24), nearly flat (-23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Decatur Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Decatur Middle School is 15.1:1, which is 15% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 4% 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 Decatur Middle School?
71.3% of students at Decatur Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Decatur Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Decatur Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 37.7% of enrollment, in Decatur, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Decatur Middle School?
Decatur Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Decatur Middle School rank among public schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur Middle School ranks #15 of 20 public schools in Decatur, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Decatur on the city page.
What other schools are in Decatur City?
Besides Decatur Middle School, Decatur City also operates Austin High School (999 students), Decatur High School (915 students), and Austin Middle School (727 students). See the Decatur City district page for the complete list.