Enrollment
663
Arkansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Springdale, AR
J. O. Kelly Middle School
Federal NCES profile for J. O. Kelly Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 051266000233
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. O. Kelly Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median.
- #3 of 4
- middle schools in Springdale · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.1:1
- students per teacher
- 75.5%
- free-lunch eligible
J. O. Kelly Middle School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. O. Kelly Middle School ranks #3 of 4 middle schools in Springdale, AR.
School address
District: Springdale School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 051266000233 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
55.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 13.6:1 Arkansas avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
75.5%
vs 59.2% Arkansas avg
+28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J. O. Kelly Middle School compares with Arkansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at J. O. Kelly Middle School
J. O. Kelly Middle School is a high-poverty, large middle school in Springdale, Arkansas, enrolling 663 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arkansas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 75.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 663 puts it in the larger third of Arkansas schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,066 scored Arkansas schools.
Among 46 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arkansas schools statewide, it ranks #5, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (70%) and Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander (19%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 332 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 209 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 663 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Springdale School District also operates Har-Ber High School (2,271 students) and Springdale High School (2,207 students) alongside J. O. Kelly 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 J. O. Kelly Middle School compares
J. O. Kelly Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.1:1 | ▼ 11% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.5% | ▲ 28% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 663 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
663
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
75.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 35% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.3%
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
$11,376
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,251
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 332 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
107
in-school suspensions + 102 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 31.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
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
Hispanic or Latino 69.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 19.0%
White 8.3%
African American 1.7%
Asian 0.8%
Two or More 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 69.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.4, J. O. Kelly Middle School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Springdale School District, which includes J. O. Kelly Middle School.
$11,376
Per student
-7%
vs Arkansas
Avg $12,251
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.0%
State 52.5%
Federal 18.5%
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 J. O. Kelly Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Har-Ber High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Springdale High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Springdale School of Innovations | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hunt Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. O. Kelly Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,271
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,207
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,976
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 890
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 852
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arkansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~663 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J. O. Kelly Middle School's federal record.
- Compare J. O. Kelly Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Springdale School District'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 J. O. Kelly Middle School
How many students attend J. O. Kelly Middle School?
J. O. Kelly Middle School has 663 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Springdale, AR.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. O. Kelly Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at J. O. Kelly Middle School is 12.1:1, which is 11% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 23% 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 J. O. Kelly Middle School?
75.5% of students at J. O. Kelly Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. O. Kelly Middle School?
The largest demographic group at J. O. Kelly Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 69.5% of enrollment, in Springdale, AR.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. O. Kelly Middle School?
J. O. Kelly Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 J. O. Kelly Middle School rank among middle schools in Springdale?
By Resource Investment Index, J. O. Kelly Middle School ranks #3 of 4 middle schools in Springdale, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Springdale on the city page.
Is J. O. Kelly Middle School a good school?
J. O. Kelly Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. 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 Springdale School District?
Besides J. O. Kelly Middle School, Springdale School District also operates Har-Ber High School (2,271 students), Springdale High School (2,207 students), and Springdale School of Innovations (1,976 students). See the Springdale School District 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.