Enrollment
509
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Indianapolis, IN
H L Harshman Middle School
Federal NCES profile for H L Harshman Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180477000844
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 2
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
H L Harshman Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #14 of 22
- middle schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 83.4%
- free-lunch eligible
H L Harshman Middle School has class sizes smaller than 79% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, H L Harshman Middle School ranks #14 of 22 middle schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Indianapolis Public Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180477000844 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.1:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
83.4%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+68% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How H L Harshman Middle School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at H L Harshman Middle School
H L Harshman Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 509 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 83.4% of students qualify for free meals, 68% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 509 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 239 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #151.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (45%) and White (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 255 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Indianapolis Public Schools spends $19,511 per pupil, 62% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 313 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 509 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 Indianapolis's middle schools, it stands alongside Franklin Central Junior High (1,797 students): H L Harshman Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.1:1 vs 21.4:1).
Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students) and Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students) alongside H L Harshman 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 H L Harshman Middle School compares
H L Harshman Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.1:1 | ▼ 18% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 83.4% | ▲ 68% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 509 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
509
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
83.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 21% in Indiana - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
39.1%
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
$19,511
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 255 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 300 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 61.5 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
Hispanic or Latino 45.2%
White 32.4%
African American 15.5%
Two or More 5.1%
Asian 1.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.4, H L Harshman Middle School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Indianapolis Public Schools, which includes H L Harshman Middle School.
$19,511
Per student
+62%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.1%
State 53.5%
Federal 12.3%
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 H L Harshman Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal Technical High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crispus Attucks High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shortridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Community Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to H L Harshman Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 8/100
Similar middle schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Franklin Central Junior High
Standard public school
1,797 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Fall Creek Valley Middle School
Standard public school
1,355 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
Southport Middle School
Standard public school
1,304 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Perry Meridian Middle School
Standard public school
1,278 students 16:1 students per teacher
Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center
Standard public school
1,143 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center
Standard public school
1,135 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~509 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on H L Harshman Middle School's federal record.
- Compare H L Harshman Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Indianapolis 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 H L Harshman Middle School
How many students attend H L Harshman Middle School?
H L Harshman Middle School has 509 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at H L Harshman Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at H L Harshman Middle School is 13.1:1, which is 18% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 17% 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 H L Harshman Middle School?
83.4% of students at H L Harshman Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of H L Harshman Middle School?
The largest demographic group at H L Harshman Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 45.2% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for H L Harshman Middle School?
H L Harshman Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 H L Harshman Middle School rank among middle schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, H L Harshman Middle School ranks #14 of 22 middle schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is H L Harshman Middle School a good school?
H L Harshman Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 Indianapolis Public Schools?
Besides H L Harshman Middle School, Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students), Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students), and Shortridge High School (1,206 students). See the Indianapolis 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.