- Enrollment
- 2,919
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Hoover, AL
Ira F Simmons Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Ira F Simmons Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010000701741
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ira F Simmons Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Hoover · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.6:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 39.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Ira F Simmons Middle School has class sizes smaller than 96% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ira F Simmons Middle School ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Hoover, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-17 students YoY
Ira F Simmons Middle School held near 865 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 68.0 → 63.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-17 students YoY 010000701741 · Hoover, AL Middle · MID · TRAD
860 enr · 12.6:1 · 39.8% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Hoover High School (2,919 students)
Ira F Simmons Middle School held near 865 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 68.0 → 63.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Ira F Simmons Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hoover High Sc
Hoover High School
2,919 students
- Spain Park Hig
Spain Park High School
1,472 students
- Robert F Bumpu
Robert F Bumpus Middle School
1,192 students
- Berry Middle S 1,058
Berry Middle School
1,058 students
- This school 860
Ira F Simmons Middle School
860 students
- Trace Crossing 769
Trace Crossings Elementary School
769 students
What this shows Ira F Simmons Middle School reports 860 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ira F Simmons Middle School compares
Ira F Simmons Middle School 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 29% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.8% | ▼ 32% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 860 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
860
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 4% in Alabama - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
10.1%
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
$14,273
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 287 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
131
in-school suspensions + 71 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 52.1%
African American 26.3%
Hispanic or Latino 14.0%
Two or More 4.1%
Asian 3.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 52.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.7, Ira F Simmons Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
District finance for Hoover City reports $14,273 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ira F Simmons Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spain Park High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Robert F Bumpus Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Berry Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Trace Crossings Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ira F Simmons Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,472
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,192
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,058
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 769
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar middle schools in Hoover
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~860 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ira F Simmons Middle School
How many students attend Ira F Simmons Middle School?
Ira F Simmons Middle School has 860 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Hoover, AL. CCD year-over-year: 882 (2022-23) → 865 (2023-24), nearly flat (-17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ira F Simmons Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ira F Simmons Middle School is 12.6:1, which is 29% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 20% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ira F Simmons Middle School?
39.8% of students at Ira F Simmons Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ira F Simmons Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Ira F Simmons Middle School is White at 52.1% of enrollment, in Hoover, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ira F Simmons Middle School?
Ira F Simmons Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Ira F Simmons Middle School rank among middle schools in Hoover?
By Resource Investment Index, Ira F Simmons Middle School ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Hoover, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Hoover on the city page.
What other schools are in Hoover City?
Besides Ira F Simmons Middle School, Hoover City also operates Hoover High School (2,919 students), Spain Park High School (1,472 students), and Robert F Bumpus Middle School (1,192 students). See the Hoover City district page for the complete list.