Enrollment
1,183
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Hernando, MS
Hernando Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Hernando Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280132000140
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hernando Middle School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi.
- #3 of 5
- public schools in Hernando · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.8:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 25.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Hernando Middle School has class sizes larger than 96% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hernando Middle School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Hernando, MS.
School address
District: Desoto Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280132000140 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
63.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.8:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
+41% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.2%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-69% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hernando Middle School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hernando Middle School
Hernando Middle School is a large middle school in Hernando, Mississippi, enrolling 1,183 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.8:1 is larger than about 96% of Mississippi schools and 41% above the 13.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 25.2% free-meal eligibility runs 69% below the Mississippi average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Mississippi, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,183 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Against 25 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #18.
Its student body is led by White (74%) and African American (11%) (diversity index 43/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 394 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Desoto Co School Dist spends $8,778 per pupil, 27% below the Mississippi average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 264 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,183 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Hernando's middle schools, it stands alongside Lewisburg Middle (996 students): Hernando Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.8:1 vs 17.8:1).
Desoto Co School Dist also operates Desoto Central High School (2,004 students) and Southaven High School (1,876 students) alongside Hernando 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 Hernando Middle School compares
Hernando Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.8:1 | ▲ 41% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.2% | ▼ 69% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,183 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.8:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,183
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
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
18.8:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 96% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
45.2%
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
$8,778
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 394 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
184
in-school suspensions + 80 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.3 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 73.7%
African American 10.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 73.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.3, Hernando Middle School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Desoto Co School Dist, which includes Hernando Middle School.
$8,778
Per student
-27%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-47%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.8%
State 51.9%
Federal 14.3%
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 Hernando Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southaven High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hernando High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southaven Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desoto Central Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hernando Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,876
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,529
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,423
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,388
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar middle schools in Hernando
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,183 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hernando Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Hernando Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Desoto Co School Dist'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 Hernando Middle School
How many students attend Hernando Middle School?
Hernando Middle School has 1,183 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Hernando, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hernando Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hernando Middle School is 18.8:1, which is 41% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hernando Middle School?
25.2% of students at Hernando Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hernando Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Hernando Middle School is White at 73.7% of enrollment, in Hernando, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hernando Middle School?
Hernando Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Hernando Middle School rank among public schools in Hernando?
By Resource Investment Index, Hernando Middle School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Hernando, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Hernando on the city page.
Is Hernando Middle School a good school?
Hernando Middle School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi. 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 Desoto Co School Dist?
Besides Hernando Middle School, Desoto Co School Dist also operates Desoto Central High School (2,004 students), Southaven High School (1,876 students), and Hernando High School (1,529 students). See the Desoto Co School Dist 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.