Enrollment
841
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Hagerstown, MD
E. Russell Hicks Middle
Federal NCES profile for E. Russell Hicks Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 240066001263
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
E. Russell Hicks Middle earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Hagerstown · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.8:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 66.0%
- free-lunch eligible
E. Russell Hicks Middle has class sizes larger than 79% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, E. Russell Hicks Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Hagerstown, MD.
School address
District: Washington County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240066001263 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
50.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.8:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.0%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How E. Russell Hicks Middle compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at E. Russell Hicks Middle
E. Russell Hicks Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Hagerstown, Maryland, enrolling 841 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 66.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 841 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Against 234 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #78.
Its student body is led by White (35%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 280 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Washington County Public Schools spends $15,838 per pupil, 23% below the Maryland average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Hagerstown's middle schools, it stands alongside Western Heights Middle (883 students): E. Russell Hicks Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.8:1 vs 15.2:1).
Washington County Public Schools also operates South Hagerstown High (1,690 students) and North Hagerstown High (1,583 students) alongside E. Russell Hicks Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How E. Russell Hicks Middle compares
E. Russell Hicks Middle on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.8:1 | ▲ 16% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.0% | ▲ 35% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 841 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
841
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 79% in Maryland - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.5%
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
$15,838
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 280 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
30
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 35.4%
Hispanic or Latino 25.2%
African American 22.6%
Two or More 14.3%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 35.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.9, E. Russell Hicks Middle is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Washington County Public Schools, which includes E. Russell Hicks Middle.
$15,838
Per student
-23%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
-5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.0%
State 53.7%
Federal 15.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How E. Russell Hicks Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hagerstown High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Hagerstown High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Williamsport High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Heights Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northern Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to E. Russell Hicks Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,690
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,583
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,061
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 883
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 841
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar middle schools in Hagerstown
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~841 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on E. Russell Hicks Middle's federal record.
- Compare E. Russell Hicks Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Washington County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about E. Russell Hicks Middle
How many students attend E. Russell Hicks Middle?
E. Russell Hicks Middle has 841 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Hagerstown, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at E. Russell Hicks Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at E. Russell Hicks Middle is 16.8:1, which is 16% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at E. Russell Hicks Middle?
66.0% of students at E. Russell Hicks Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of E. Russell Hicks Middle?
The largest demographic group at E. Russell Hicks Middle is White at 35.4% of enrollment, in Hagerstown, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for E. Russell Hicks Middle?
E. Russell Hicks Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does E. Russell Hicks Middle rank among middle schools in Hagerstown?
By Resource Investment Index, E. Russell Hicks Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Hagerstown, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Hagerstown on the city page.
Is E. Russell Hicks Middle a good school?
E. Russell Hicks Middle earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Washington County Public Schools?
Besides E. Russell Hicks Middle, Washington County Public Schools also operates South Hagerstown High (1,690 students), North Hagerstown High (1,583 students), and Williamsport High (1,061 students). See the Washington County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.