Enrollment
603
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Des Moines, IA
Harding Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Harding Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 190897000540
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Harding Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #5 of 10
- middle schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.3:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 82.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Harding Middle School has class sizes larger than 80% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Harding Middle School ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000540 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.3:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
82.3%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+126% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Harding Middle School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Harding Middle School
Harding Middle School is a high-poverty, large middle school in Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling 603 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 82.3% of students qualify for free meals, 126% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 603 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 38 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #27.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (34%) and African American (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 302 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 63.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 194 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 603 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Des Moines's middle schools, it stands alongside Weeks Middle School (688 students): Harding Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.3:1 vs 18.1:1).
Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students) and Roosevelt High School (2,051 students) alongside Harding 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 Harding Middle School compares
Harding Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.3:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 82.3% | ▲ 126% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 603 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
603
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
82.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 126% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
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
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 80% in Iowa - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
63.3%
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
$14,308
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $12,854
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 302 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
34
in-school suspensions + 160 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.2 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
Hispanic or Latino 34.3%
African American 29.5%
White 15.9%
Asian 10.3%
Two or More 9.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 34.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.1, Harding Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Des Moines Independent Comm School District, which includes Harding Middle School.
$14,308
Per student
+11%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.4%
State 56.2%
Federal 14.4%
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 Harding Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Harding Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 31.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,952
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Des Moines
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Weeks Middle School
Standard public school
688 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Mccombs Middle School
Standard public school
670 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Meredith Middle School
Standard public school
662 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Merrill Middle School
Standard public school
657 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Brody Middle School
Standard public school
641 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Callanan Middle School
Standard public school
553 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~603 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Harding Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Harding Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Des Moines Independent Comm School District'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 Harding Middle School
How many students attend Harding Middle School?
Harding Middle School has 603 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Des Moines, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Harding Middle School is 16.3:1, which is 10% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Harding Middle School?
82.3% of students at Harding Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Harding Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Harding Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 34.3% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Harding Middle School?
Harding Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Harding Middle School rank among middle schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Harding Middle School ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Des Moines, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Des Moines on the city page.
Is Harding Middle School a good school?
Harding Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa 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 Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Besides Harding Middle School, Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students), Roosevelt High School (2,051 students), and East High School (1,952 students). See the Des Moines Independent Comm School District 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.