- Enrollment
- 2,159
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Madison, AL
Discovery Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010000800495
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 77
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Alabama schools.
- #5 of 12
- public schools in Madison · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 22.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Middle School has class sizes smaller than 94% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Middle School ranks #5 of 12 public schools in Madison, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-265 students YoY
Discovery Middle School shrank from 1,334 students in 2022-23 to 1,069 in 2023-24 (-19.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 80.0 → 66.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-265 students YoY 010000800495 · Madison, AL Middle · MID · TRAD
1,054 enr · 13.2:1 · 22.0% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: James Clemens High School (2,159 students)
Discovery Middle School shrank from 1,334 students in 2022-23 to 1,069 in 2023-24 (-19.9%). Teacher FTE lost 80.0 → 66.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Discovery Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- James Clemens
James Clemens High School
2,159 students
- Bob Jones High
Bob Jones High School
2,048 students
- Liberty Middle
Liberty Middle School
1,103 students
- Midtown Elemen
Midtown Elementary School
1,097 students
- This school
Discovery Middle School
1,054 students
- Mill Creek Ele
Mill Creek Elementary School
965 students
What this shows Discovery Middle School reports 1,054 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery Middle School compares
Discovery Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▼ 25% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.0% | ▼ 63% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,054 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,054
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
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
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 6% in Alabama - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
9.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,575
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
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 351 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
61
in-school suspensions + 52 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.8 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 58.7%
African American 16.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Two or More 8.4%
Asian 6.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 58.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.8, Discovery Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
District finance for Madison City reports $11,575 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Discovery Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Clemens High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bob Jones High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Midtown Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mill Creek Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,048
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,103
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,097
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Madison
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 (~1,054 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Middle School
How many students attend Discovery Middle School?
Discovery Middle School has 1,054 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Madison, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,334 (2022-23) → 1,069 (2023-24), down 265.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School is 13.2:1, which is 25% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 16% 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 Discovery Middle School?
22.0% of students at Discovery Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Middle School is White at 58.7% of enrollment, in Madison, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Middle School?
Discovery Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Discovery Middle School rank among public schools in Madison?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Middle School ranks #5 of 12 public schools in Madison, 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 Madison on the city page.
What other schools are in Madison City?
Besides Discovery Middle School, Madison City also operates James Clemens High School (2,159 students), Bob Jones High School (2,048 students), and Liberty Middle School (1,103 students). See the Madison City district page for the complete list.