- Enrollment
- 278
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Decatur, AR
Decatur Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Decatur Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 050498001602
👥 S:T ratio 68
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Decatur Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Arkansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8.1:1
- small classes for Arkansas
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Decatur Middle School has class sizes smaller than 86% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur Middle School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Decatur, AR.
School address
District: Decatur School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050498001602 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Decatur Middle School shrank from 177 students in 2022-23 to 156 in 2023-24 (-11.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 20.0 → 14.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-21 students YoY 050498001602 · Decatur, AR Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
162 enr · 8.1:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Decatur Northside Elementary (278 students)
Decatur Middle School shrank from 177 students in 2022-23 to 156 in 2023-24 (-11.9%). Teacher FTE lost 20.0 → 14.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Decatur Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Decatur Norths
Decatur Northside Elementary
278 students
- Decatur High S
Decatur High School
173 students
- This school
Decatur Middle School
162 students
What this shows Decatur Middle School reports 162 students on the CCD universe file.
How Decatur Middle School compares
Decatur Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.1:1 | ▼ 40% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 162 | top 92% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.1:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
162
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
8.1:1
students per teacher
- 40% below state mean
Top 14% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
37.0%
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
$12,528
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 43.2%
White 42.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.3%
Asian 3.1%
African American 1.9%
Two or More 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.1, Decatur Middle School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Decatur School District reports $12,528 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur Northside Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower 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
- 173
- Students per teacher
- 3.7:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~162 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~8.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Decatur Middle School
How many students attend Decatur Middle School?
Decatur Middle School has 162 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Decatur, AR. CCD year-over-year: 177 (2022-23) → 156 (2023-24), down 21.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Decatur Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Decatur Middle School is 8.1:1, which is 40% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 48% 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?
100.0% of students at Decatur Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Decatur Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Decatur Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 43.2% of enrollment, in Decatur, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Decatur Middle School?
Decatur Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 #2 of 3 public schools in Decatur, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Decatur School District?
Besides Decatur Middle School, Decatur School District also operates Decatur Northside Elementary (278 students) and Decatur High School (173 students). See the Decatur School District district page for the complete list.