- Enrollment
- 3,022
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Ocala, FL
Howard Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Howard Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120126001251
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howard Middle School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Florida schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Florida schools.
- #5 of 5
- middle schools in Ocala · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.5:1
- large classes for Florida
- 60.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Howard Middle School has class sizes larger than 74% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Middle School ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Ocala, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-89 students YoY
Howard Middle School shrank from 980 students in 2022-23 to 891 in 2023-24 (-9.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 47.0 → 46.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-89 students YoY 120126001251 · Ocala, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
917 enr · 19.5:1 · 60.1% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: West Port High School (3,022 students)
Howard Middle School shrank from 980 students in 2022-23 to 891 in 2023-24 (-9.1%). Teacher FTE lost 47.0 → 46.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Howard Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Port High
West Port High School
3,022 students
- Forest High Sc
Forest High School
2,387 students
- Belleview High
Belleview High School
1,904 students
- Vanguard High
Vanguard High School
1,684 students
- Belleview Midd
Belleview Middle School
1,600 students
- This school 917
Howard Middle School
917 students
What this shows Howard Middle School reports 917 students on the CCD universe file.
How Howard Middle School compares
Howard Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.5:1 | ▲ 10% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.1% | ▲ 16% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 917 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.5:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
917
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
60.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.5:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 74% in Florida - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
44.4%
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
$11,180
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 459 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
210
in-school suspensions + 195 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 44.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 35.8%
White 26.7%
Hispanic or Latino 25.1%
Asian 6.7%
Two or More 5.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 35.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.0, Howard Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Marion reports $11,180 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Howard Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Port High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forest High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Belleview High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vanguard High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Belleview Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howard Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,387
- Students per teacher
- 25.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,904
- Students per teacher
- 26.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,684
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,600
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
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 (~917 students)
Frequently asked questions about Howard Middle School
How many students attend Howard Middle School?
Howard Middle School has 917 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Ocala, FL. CCD year-over-year: 980 (2022-23) → 891 (2023-24), down 89.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard Middle School is 19.5:1, which is 10% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Howard Middle School?
60.1% of students at Howard Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howard Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Howard Middle School is African American at 35.8% of enrollment, in Ocala, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howard Middle School?
Howard Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower 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 Howard Middle School rank among middle schools in Ocala?
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Middle School ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Ocala, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Ocala on the city page.
What other schools are in Marion?
Besides Howard Middle School, Marion also operates West Port High School (3,022 students), Forest High School (2,387 students), and Belleview High School (1,904 students). See the Marion district page for the complete list.