- Enrollment
- 1,315
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Alexandria, MN
Discovery Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 270306000083
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median.
- #7 of 9
- public schools in Alexandria · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- students per teacher
- 25.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Middle School has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Middle School ranks #7 of 9 public schools in Alexandria, MN.
School address
District: Alexandria Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 270306000083 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Discovery Middle School held near 874 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-39 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 60.2 → 58.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-39 students YoY 270306000083 · Alexandria, MN Middle · MID · TRAD
898 enr · 15:1 · 25.6% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Alexandria Area High School (1,315 students)
Discovery Middle School held near 874 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-39 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 60.2 → 58.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Discovery Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Alexandria Are
Alexandria Area High School
1,315 students
- This school
Discovery Middle School
898 students
- Lincoln Elemen 481
Lincoln Elementary
481 students
- Voyager Elemen 446
Voyager Elementary
446 students
- Woodland Eleme 410
Woodland Elementary School
410 students
- Miltona Elemen 126
Miltona Elementary
126 students
What this shows Discovery Middle School reports 898 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery Middle School compares
Discovery Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▼ 5% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.6% | ▼ 40% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 898 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
898
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 54% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.0%
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
$14,622
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
52
in-school suspensions + 50 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.8%
Two or More 5.0%
African American 1.0%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 87.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.7, Discovery Middle School is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Alexandria Public School District reports $14,622 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Area High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Voyager Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Woodland Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Miltona Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar 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
- 481
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 446
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 410
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 126
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
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 (~898 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Middle School
How many students attend Discovery Middle School?
Discovery Middle School has 898 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Alexandria, MN. CCD year-over-year: 913 (2022-23) → 874 (2023-24), nearly flat (-39).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School is 15:1, which is 5% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 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 Discovery Middle School?
25.6% of students at Discovery Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Middle School is White at 87.0% of enrollment, in Alexandria, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Middle School?
Discovery Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, 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 Alexandria?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Middle School ranks #7 of 9 public schools in Alexandria, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Alexandria on the city page.
What other schools are in Alexandria Public School District?
Besides Discovery Middle School, Alexandria Public School District also operates Alexandria Area High School (1,315 students), Lincoln Elementary (481 students), and Voyager Elementary (446 students). See the Alexandria Public School District district page for the complete list.