- Enrollment
- 1,106
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Fort Payne, AL
Fort Payne Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Fort Payne Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010156001750
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Payne Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Alabama schools.
- #2 of 5
- public schools in Fort Payne · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 69.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Fort Payne Middle School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Payne Middle School ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Fort Payne, AL.
School address
District: Fort Payne City · Alabama
NCES ID 010156001750 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Fort Payne Middle School held near 756 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-31 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 49.9 → 48.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-31 students YoY 010156001750 · Fort Payne, AL Middle · MID · TRAD
741 enr · 15.1:1 · 69.0% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Fort Payne High School (1,106 students)
Fort Payne Middle School held near 756 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-31 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 49.9 → 48.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Fort Payne Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fort Payne Hig
Fort Payne High School
1,106 students
- Little Ridge I
Little Ridge Intermediate School
792 students
- This school
Fort Payne Middle School
741 students
- Wills Valley E
Wills Valley Elementary School
738 students
- Williams Avenu 131
Williams Avenue Elementary School
131 students
What this shows Fort Payne Middle School reports 741 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fort Payne Middle School compares
Fort Payne Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▼ 15% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.0% | ▲ 17% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 741 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
741
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 18% in Alabama - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.1%
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
$11,328
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
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 371 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
148
in-school suspensions + 69 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 47.8%
Hispanic or Latino 44.0%
Two or More 3.6%
African American 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Asian 0.9%
Largest group: White at 47.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.6, Fort Payne Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Payne City reports $11,328 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fort Payne Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Payne High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Little Ridge Intermediate School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wills Valley Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Williams Avenue Elementary School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Payne Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 738
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 131
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
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 (~741 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fort Payne Middle School
How many students attend Fort Payne Middle School?
Fort Payne Middle School has 741 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Fort Payne, AL. CCD year-over-year: 787 (2022-23) → 756 (2023-24), nearly flat (-31).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Payne Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Payne Middle School is 15.1:1, which is 15% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 4% 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 Fort Payne Middle School?
69.0% of students at Fort Payne Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Payne Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Fort Payne Middle School is White at 47.8% of enrollment, in Fort Payne, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Payne Middle School?
Fort Payne Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Fort Payne Middle School rank among public schools in Fort Payne?
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Payne Middle School ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Fort Payne, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Fort Payne on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Payne City?
Besides Fort Payne Middle School, Fort Payne City also operates Fort Payne High School (1,106 students), Little Ridge Intermediate School (792 students), and Wills Valley Elementary School (738 students). See the Fort Payne City district page for the complete list.