Enrollment
592
Missouri · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Joplin, MO
East Middle
Federal NCES profile for East 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 291635002431
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East Middle earns 41/100 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 3
- middle schools in Joplin · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 51.9%
- free-lunch eligible
East Middle has class sizes near the Missouri median. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Joplin, MO.
School address
District: Joplin Schools · Missouri
NCES ID 291635002431 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
43.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 12.8:1 Missouri avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
51.9%
vs 46.1% Missouri avg
+13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How East Middle compares with Missouri and U.S. medians
What stands out at East Middle
East Middle is a higher-need, large middle school in Joplin, Missouri, enrolling 592 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 13.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Missouri schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 51.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 592 puts it in the larger third of Missouri schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,313 scored Missouri schools.
Among 264 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Missouri schools statewide, it ranks #196, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 592 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Joplin Schools spends $9,800 per pupil, 24% below the Missouri average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 208 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 592 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Joplin Schools also operates Joplin High (2,288 students) and South Middle (596 students) alongside East 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 East Middle compares
East Middle on the metrics families compare, against 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 | 51.9% | ▲ 13% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 592 | top 15% | - | - |
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.
592
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
51.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
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
20.6%
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
$9,800
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $12,931
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 592 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
125
in-school suspensions + 83 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 62.0%
Hispanic or Latino 16.9%
Two or More 11.5%
African American 3.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.0%
Asian 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Largest group: White at 62.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.1, East Middle is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Joplin Schools, which includes East Middle.
$9,800
Per student
-24%
vs Missouri
Avg $12,931
-41%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.9%
State 26.1%
Federal 19.0%
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 East Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cecil Floyd Elem. | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Irving Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to East Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,288
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 596
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 549
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 10.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Missouri, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~592 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on East Middle's federal record.
- Compare East Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Joplin 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 East Middle
How many students attend East Middle?
East Middle has 592 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Joplin, MO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at East Middle 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 East Middle?
51.9% of students at East Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East Middle?
The largest demographic group at East Middle is White at 62.0% of enrollment, in Joplin, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East Middle?
East 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 East Middle rank among middle schools in Joplin?
By Resource Investment Index, East Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Joplin, 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 Joplin on the city page.
Is East Middle a good school?
East Middle earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Missouri median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools. 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 Joplin Schools?
Besides East Middle, Joplin Schools also operates Joplin High (2,288 students), South Middle (596 students), and North Middle (549 students). See the Joplin 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.