- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Helena, AL
Helena Middle
Federal NCES profile for Helena Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010303002128
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Helena Middle earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Helena · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- students per teacher
- 25.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Helena Middle has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Helena Middle ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Helena, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-47 students YoY
Helena Middle held near 988 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-47 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 54.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-47 students YoY 010303002128 · Helena, AL Middle · MID · TRAD
957 enr · 17.7:1 · 25.6% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students)
Helena Middle held near 988 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-47 headcount). Teacher FTE held 54.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Helena Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Oak Mountain H
Oak Mountain High School
1,648 students
- Helena High Sc
Helena High School
1,383 students
- Chelsea High S
Chelsea High School
1,235 students
- Oak Mountain M
Oak Mountain Middle School
1,168 students
- Calera High
Calera High
1,018 students
- This school
Helena Middle
957 students
What this shows Helena Middle reports 957 students on the CCD universe file.
How Helena Middle compares
Helena Middle 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 | 17.7:1 | ▼ 0% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.6% | ▼ 56% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 957 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
957
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 55% in Alabama - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
12.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,436
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
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 383 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
98
in-school suspensions + 49 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 69.7%
African American 15.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.4%
Two or More 2.8%
Asian 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 69.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.9, Helena Middle is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Shelby County reports $12,436 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Helena Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Mountain High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Helena High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chelsea High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oak Mountain Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Calera High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Helena Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,383
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,235
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,168
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,018
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 (~957 students)
Frequently asked questions about Helena Middle
How many students attend Helena Middle?
Helena Middle has 957 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Helena, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,035 (2022-23) → 988 (2023-24), nearly flat (-47).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helena Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Helena Middle is 17.7:1, which is 0% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Helena Middle?
25.6% of students at Helena Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Helena Middle?
The largest demographic group at Helena Middle is White at 69.7% of enrollment, in Helena, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Helena Middle?
Helena Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Helena Middle rank among public schools in Helena?
By Resource Investment Index, Helena Middle ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Helena, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Shelby County?
Besides Helena Middle, Shelby County also operates Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students), Helena High School (1,383 students), and Chelsea High School (1,235 students). See the Shelby County district page for the complete list.