- Enrollment
- 1,956
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Kennewick, WA
Desert Hills Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Hills Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530393000598
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 95
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Hills Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Washington schools.
- #4 of 5
- middle schools in Kennewick · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.6:1
- large classes for Washington
- 24.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Hills Middle School has class sizes larger than 86% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Hills Middle School ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Kennewick, WA.
School address
District: Kennewick School District · Washington
NCES ID 530393000598 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Desert Hills Middle School held near 897 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 42.7 → 41.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 530393000598 · Kennewick, WA Middle · MID · TRAD
906 enr · 21.6:1 · 24.0% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Kamiakin High School (1,956 students)
Desert Hills Middle School held near 897 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 42.7 → 41.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Desert Hills Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kamiakin High
Kamiakin High School
1,956 students
- Kennewick High
Kennewick High School
1,921 students
- Southridge Hig
Southridge High School
1,612 students
- Chinook Middle
Chinook Middle School
950 students
- This school
Desert Hills Middle School
906 students
- Amistad Elemen
Amistad Elementary School
878 students
What this shows Desert Hills Middle School reports 906 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Hills Middle School compares
Desert Hills Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.6:1 | ▲ 23% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.0% | ▼ 47% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 906 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.6:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
906
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.6:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 86% in Washington - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
2.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$15,202
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 453 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
49
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 74.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.3%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 1.9%
African American 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 74.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.7, Desert Hills Middle School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Kennewick School District reports $15,202 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Hills Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kamiakin High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kennewick High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southridge High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chinook Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Amistad Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Hills Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,921
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 950
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar middle schools in Kennewick
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 (~906 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Hills Middle School
How many students attend Desert Hills Middle School?
Desert Hills Middle School has 906 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Kennewick, WA. CCD year-over-year: 889 (2022-23) → 897 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Hills Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Hills Middle School is 21.6:1, which is 23% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Hills Middle School?
24.0% of students at Desert Hills Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Hills Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Hills Middle School is White at 74.3% of enrollment, in Kennewick, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Hills Middle School?
Desert Hills Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Desert Hills Middle School rank among middle schools in Kennewick?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Hills Middle School ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Kennewick, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Kennewick on the city page.
What other schools are in Kennewick School District?
Besides Desert Hills Middle School, Kennewick School District also operates Kamiakin High School (1,956 students), Kennewick High School (1,921 students), and Southridge High School (1,612 students). See the Kennewick School District district page for the complete list.