Enrollment
1,278
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Alpharetta, GA
Desana Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desana Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130222004228
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desana Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia schools.
- #8 of 8
- middle schools in Alpharetta · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.5:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 14.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Desana Middle School has class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desana Middle School ranks #8 of 8 middle schools in Alpharetta, GA.
School address
District: Forsyth County · Georgia
NCES ID 130222004228 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
69.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.5:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
14.5%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-76% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desana Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desana Middle School
Desana Middle School is a lower-poverty, large middle school in Alpharetta, Georgia, enrolling 1,278 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.5:1 is larger than about 93% of Georgia schools and 28% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 14.5% free-meal eligibility runs 76% below the Georgia average.
Enrollment of 1,278 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 200 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #134.
Its student body is led by Asian (51%) and White (22%) (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 426 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
16.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Forsyth County spends $10,928 per pupil, 21% below the Georgia average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 7 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Alpharetta's middle schools, it stands alongside Hopewell Middle School (1,265 students): Desana Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.5:1 vs 14.9:1).
Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students) and South Forsyth High School (2,634 students) alongside Desana Middle 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 Desana Middle School compares
Desana Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.5:1 | ▲ 28% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.5% | ▼ 76% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,278 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,278
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
14.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 76% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
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
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 93% in Georgia - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,928
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 426 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 56 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
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
Asian 50.5%
White 22.0%
Hispanic or Latino 17.0%
African American 7.0%
Two or More 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: Asian at 50.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.2, Desana Middle School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Forsyth County, which includes Desana Middle School.
$10,928
Per student
-21%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.6%
State 38.4%
Federal 7.0%
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 Desana Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lambert High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Forsyth High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Denmark High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Forsyth High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forsyth Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desana Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,249
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,634
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,527
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,503
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,457
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar middle schools in Alpharetta
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Hopewell Middle School
Standard public school
1,265 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Autrey Mill Middle School
Standard public school
1,256 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Taylor Road Middle School
Standard public school
1,244 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Webb Bridge Middle School
Standard public school
1,228 students 15:1 students per teacher
Northwestern Middle School
Standard public school
1,167 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Haynes Bridge Middle School
Standard public school
627 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,278 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desana Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Desana Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Forsyth County'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 Desana Middle School
How many students attend Desana Middle School?
Desana Middle School has 1,278 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Alpharetta, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desana Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desana Middle School is 18.5:1, which is 28% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desana Middle School?
14.5% of students at Desana Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desana Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desana Middle School is Asian at 50.5% of enrollment, in Alpharetta, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desana Middle School?
Desana Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Desana Middle School rank among middle schools in Alpharetta?
By Resource Investment Index, Desana Middle School ranks #8 of 8 middle schools in Alpharetta, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Alpharetta on the city page.
Is Desana Middle School a good school?
Desana Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia 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 Forsyth County?
Besides Desana Middle School, Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students), South Forsyth High School (2,634 students), and Denmark High School (2,527 students). See the Forsyth County 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.