Enrollment
947
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Oak Park, IL
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 172925004581
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #8 of 11
- public schools in Oak Park · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 947
- students enrolled
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School ranks #8 of 11 public schools in Oak Park, IL.
School address
District: Oak Park Esd 97 · Illinois
NCES ID 172925004581 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
74.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.9:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-8% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School is a large middle school in Oak Park, Illinois, enrolling 947 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.9:1 puts it in the smaller third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Illinois, bigger than 93% of state schools at 947 students.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 94% of the 3,845 Illinois schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Its student body is led by White (46%) and African American (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
15.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Oak Park Esd 97 spends $22,057 per pupil, 29% above the Illinois average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Oak Park's middle schools, it stands alongside Percy Julian Middle School (927 students): Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (12.9:1 vs 12.4:1).
Oak Park Esd 97 also operates Percy Julian Middle School (927 students) and Abraham Lincoln Elem School (580 students) alongside Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School.
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 Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School compares
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 8% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 947 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
947
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 40% in Illinois - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
15.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$22,057
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
33
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 947 Top 7% in Illinois - larger than 93% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 74.0
Students per teacher 12.9:1 -8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 172925004581
Student demographics
White 46.4%
African American 20.0%
Hispanic or Latino 18.2%
Two or More 12.6%
Asian 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 46.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Gifted & talented Yes
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 15.9%
In-school suspensions 33
Out-of-school suspensions 13
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Oak Park Esd 97, which includes Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School.
$22,057
Per student
+29%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 67.4%
State 29.7%
Federal 2.9%
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 Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percy Julian Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Abraham Lincoln Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oliver W Holmes Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Irving Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 927
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 580
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 524
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 513
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 64/100
Similar middle schools in Oak Park
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Oak Park Esd 97'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 Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
How many students attend Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School?
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School has 947 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Oak Park, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School is 12.9:1, which is 8% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 18% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School is White at 46.4% of enrollment, in Oak Park, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School?
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School rank among public schools in Oak Park?
By Resource Investment Index, Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School ranks #8 of 11 public schools in Oak Park, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Oak Park on the city page.
Is Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School a good school?
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 Oak Park Esd 97?
Besides Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, Oak Park Esd 97 also operates Percy Julian Middle School (927 students), Abraham Lincoln Elem School (580 students), and Longfellow Elem School (524 students). See the Oak Park Esd 97 district page for the complete list.