Enrollment
1,198
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Manassas, VA
Herbert J. Saunders Middle
Federal NCES profile for Herbert J. Saunders Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510313001951
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Herbert J. Saunders Middle earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Manassas · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 32.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Herbert J. Saunders Middle has class sizes larger than 77% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Herbert J. Saunders Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Manassas, VA.
School address
District: Prince William County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510313001951 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
77.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.8%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Herbert J. Saunders Middle compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Herbert J. Saunders Middle
Herbert J. Saunders Middle is a large middle school in Manassas, Virginia, enrolling 1,198 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 32.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 1,198 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 182 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #44.
Its student body is led by White (31%) and Hispanic or Latino (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 300 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
11.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Manassas's middle schools, it stands alongside Parkside Middle (1,352 students): Herbert J. Saunders Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.6:1 vs 13.8:1).
Prince William County Public Schools also operates Charles J. Colgan Sr. High (2,956 students) and Woodbridge High (2,898 students) alongside Herbert J. Saunders Middle.
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 Herbert J. Saunders Middle compares
Herbert J. Saunders Middle on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 12% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.8% | ▼ 43% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,198 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,198
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 77% in Virginia - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.7%
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
$13,913
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 300 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 92 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.2 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
White 31.2%
Hispanic or Latino 30.6%
African American 18.5%
Asian 12.9%
Two or More 6.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 31.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.4, Herbert J. Saunders Middle is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Prince William County Public Schools, which includes Herbert J. Saunders Middle.
$13,913
Per student
-5%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.2%
State 44.1%
Federal 8.6%
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 Herbert J. Saunders Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles J. Colgan Sr. High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Woodbridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Osbourn Park High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gainesville High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gar-Field High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Herbert J. Saunders Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,956
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,898
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,661
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 2,648
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,524
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar middle schools in Manassas
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Parkside Middle
Standard public school
1,352 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Louise a. Benton Middle
Standard public school
1,339 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Grace E. Metz Middle
Standard public school
1,111 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Unity Braxton Middle
Standard public school
1,055 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,198 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Herbert J. Saunders Middle's federal record.
- Compare Herbert J. Saunders Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Prince William County 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 Herbert J. Saunders Middle
How many students attend Herbert J. Saunders Middle?
Herbert J. Saunders Middle has 1,198 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Manassas, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Herbert J. Saunders Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Herbert J. Saunders Middle is 15.6:1, which is 12% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Herbert J. Saunders Middle?
32.8% of students at Herbert J. Saunders Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Herbert J. Saunders Middle?
The largest demographic group at Herbert J. Saunders Middle is White at 31.2% of enrollment, in Manassas, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Herbert J. Saunders Middle?
Herbert J. Saunders Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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 Herbert J. Saunders Middle rank among middle schools in Manassas?
By Resource Investment Index, Herbert J. Saunders Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Manassas, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Manassas on the city page.
Is Herbert J. Saunders Middle a good school?
Herbert J. Saunders Middle earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia 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 Prince William County Public Schools?
Besides Herbert J. Saunders Middle, Prince William County Public Schools also operates Charles J. Colgan Sr. High (2,956 students), Woodbridge High (2,898 students), and Osbourn Park High (2,661 students). See the Prince William County 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.