Enrollment
988
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Newport News, VA
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle
Federal NCES profile for Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510264001056
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #7 of 7
- middle schools in Newport News · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 87.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Newport News, VA.
School address
District: Newport News City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510264001056 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
67.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.7:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
87.4%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is a high-poverty, large middle school in Newport News, Virginia, enrolling 988 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 87.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 988 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 1,868 Virginia schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 200 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #173, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (48%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%) (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 323 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 36.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 391 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 988 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Newport News's middle schools, it stands alongside Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle (1,087 students): Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.7:1 vs 15.8:1).
Newport News City Public Schools also operates Woodside High (1,723 students) and Menchville High (1,707 students) alongside Ella J. Fitzgerald 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 Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle compares
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▲ 6% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.4% | ▲ 52% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 988 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
988
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
87.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 64% in Virginia - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
36.8%
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
$15,115
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.1 FTE
Per 323 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
163
in-school suspensions + 228 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 39.6 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
African American 47.9%
Hispanic or Latino 25.5%
White 14.9%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 47.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.6, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Newport News City Public Schools, which includes Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle.
$15,115
Per student
+3%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.8%
State 50.6%
Federal 17.7%
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 Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Menchville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Warwick High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Denbigh High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Heritage High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,723
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,707
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,622
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,106
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar middle schools in Newport News
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle
Standard public school
1,087 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Mary Passage Middle
Standard public school
931 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Homer L. Hines Middle
Standard public school
846 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Crittenden Middle
Standard public school
781 students 13:1 students per teacher
B.T. Washington Middle
Standard public school
413 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Huntington Middle
Standard public school
292 students 9.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~988 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle's federal record.
- Compare Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Newport News City 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 Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle
How many students attend Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has 988 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Newport News, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is 14.7:1, which is 6% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?
87.4% of students at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?
The largest demographic group at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is African American at 47.9% of enrollment, in Newport News, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle rank among middle schools in Newport News?
By Resource Investment Index, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Newport News, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Newport News on the city page.
Is Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle a good school?
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. 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 Newport News City Public Schools?
Besides Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle, Newport News City Public Schools also operates Woodside High (1,723 students), Menchville High (1,707 students), and Warwick High (1,622 students). See the Newport News City 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.