- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Harding Middle School held near 634 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 37.3 → 38.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-21 students YoY 190897000540 · Des Moines, IA Middle · MID · TRAD
603 enr · 16.3:1 · 82.3% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Harding Middle School held near 634 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount). Teacher FTE added 37.3 → 38.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Harding Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
2,364 students
- Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School
2,051 students
- East High Scho
East High School
1,952 students
- North High Sch
North High School
1,428 students
- Hoover High Sc 898
Hoover High School
898 students
- This school 603
Harding Middle School
603 students
What this shows Harding Middle School reports 603 students on the CCD universe file.
How Harding Middle School compares
Harding Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$15,286
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
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.
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
District finance for Des Moines Independent Comm School District reports $15,286 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 2,051
- 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
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 (~603 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 655 (2022-23) → 634 (2023-24), nearly flat (-21).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.