- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sinton, TX
E Merle Smith Middle
Federal NCES profile for E Merle Smith Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 484035004572
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
E Merle Smith Middle earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Texas schools.
- #4 of 5
- public schools in Sinton · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.6:1
- small classes for Texas
- 69.6%
- free-lunch eligible
E Merle Smith Middle has class sizes smaller than 87% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, E Merle Smith Middle ranks #4 of 5 public schools in Sinton, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-44 students YoY
E Merle Smith Middle shrank from 428 students in 2022-23 to 384 in 2023-24 (-10.3%).
Teacher FTE held 40.5 → 40.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-44 students YoY 484035004572 · Sinton, TX Middle · SMALL · TRAD
425 enr · 10.6:1 · 69.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Sinton H S (547 students)
E Merle Smith Middle shrank from 428 students in 2022-23 to 384 in 2023-24 (-10.3%). Teacher FTE held 40.5 → 40.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
E Merle Smith Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sinton H S
Sinton H S
547 students
- Welder El
Welder El
520 students
- Sinton El
Sinton El
458 students
- This school
E Merle Smith Middle
425 students
- Juvenile Deten 11
Juvenile Detention Ctr
11 students
What this shows E Merle Smith Middle reports 425 students on the CCD universe file.
How E Merle Smith Middle compares
E Merle Smith Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.6:1 | ▼ 28% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.6% | ▲ 12% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 425 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.6:1
Leaner classes than 85% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
425
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.6:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 13% in Texas - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.8%
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
$13,283
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
69
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 82.1%
White 15.8%
African American 1.4%
Two or More 0.5%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 82.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.1, E Merle Smith Middle is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Sinton Isd reports $13,283 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How E Merle Smith Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinton H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Welder El | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sinton El | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Juvenile Detention Ctr | Smaller | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to E Merle Smith Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 520
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 458
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 11
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 30/100
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 (~425 students)
Frequently asked questions about E Merle Smith Middle
How many students attend E Merle Smith Middle?
E Merle Smith Middle has 425 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sinton, TX. CCD year-over-year: 428 (2022-23) → 384 (2023-24), down 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at E Merle Smith Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at E Merle Smith Middle is 10.6:1, which is 28% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 32% 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 E Merle Smith Middle?
69.6% of students at E Merle Smith Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of E Merle Smith Middle?
The largest demographic group at E Merle Smith Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 82.1% of enrollment, in Sinton, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for E Merle Smith Middle?
E Merle Smith Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 E Merle Smith Middle rank among public schools in Sinton?
By Resource Investment Index, E Merle Smith Middle ranks #4 of 5 public schools in Sinton, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Sinton on the city page.
What other schools are in Sinton Isd?
Besides E Merle Smith Middle, Sinton Isd also operates Sinton H S (547 students), Welder El (520 students), and Sinton El (458 students). See the Sinton Isd district page for the complete list.