- Enrollment
- 2,262
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Liberty, MO
Discovery Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 291854003226
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Middle School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Missouri median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #1 of 4
- middle schools in Liberty · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 11.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Middle School has class sizes near the Missouri median. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Middle School ranks #1 of 4 middle schools in Liberty, MO.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Discovery Middle School held near 663 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 49.7 → 49.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 291854003226 · Liberty, MO Middle · MID · TRAD
678 enr · 13.8:1 · 11.5% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Liberty North High School (2,262 students)
Discovery Middle School held near 663 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE held 49.7 → 49.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Discovery Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Liberty North
Liberty North High School
2,262 students
- Liberty High
Liberty High
1,842 students
- South Valley M 809
South Valley Middle
809 students
- Shoal Creek El 795
Shoal Creek Elem.
795 students
- Heritage Middl 757
Heritage Middle School
757 students
- This school 678
Discovery Middle School
678 students
What this shows Discovery Middle School reports 678 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 Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▲ 8% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.5% | ▼ 75% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 678 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
678
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% below the Missouri average of 46.1%
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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 67% in Missouri - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,179
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 339 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
82
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.3%
Two or More 8.6%
African American 8.1%
Asian 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 67.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.5, Discovery Middle School is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Liberty 53 reports $13,179 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty North High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Valley Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shoal Creek Elem. | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Heritage Middle School | Similar size | 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
- 1,842
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 809
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 795
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 757
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
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 (~678 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Middle School
How many students attend Discovery Middle School?
Discovery Middle School has 678 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Liberty, MO. CCD year-over-year: 653 (2022-23) → 663 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School is 13.8:1, which is 8% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 12% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery Middle School?
11.5% of students at Discovery Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Middle School is White at 67.7% of enrollment, in Liberty, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Middle School?
Discovery Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher 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 middle schools in Liberty?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Middle School ranks #1 of 4 middle schools in Liberty, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Liberty on the city page.
What other schools are in Liberty 53?
Besides Discovery Middle School, Liberty 53 also operates Liberty North High School (2,262 students), Liberty High (1,842 students), and South Valley Middle (809 students). See the Liberty 53 district page for the complete list.