Enrollment
423
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Durham, NC
James E Shepard Middle
Federal NCES profile for James E Shepard Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370126000441
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James E Shepard Middle earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 9
- middle schools in Durham · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 70.3%
- free-lunch eligible
James E Shepard Middle has class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James E Shepard Middle ranks #4 of 9 middle schools in Durham, NC.
School address
District: Durham Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370126000441 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James E Shepard Middle compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at James E Shepard Middle
James E Shepard Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Durham, North Carolina, enrolling 423 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 70.3% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 423 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 330 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #58.
Its student body is led by African American (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (31%) (diversity index 52/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 212 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Durham Public Schools spends $14,937 per pupil, 24% above the North Carolina average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 121 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 423 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Durham's middle schools, it stands alongside Sherwood Githens Middle (878 students): James E Shepard Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.6:1 vs 17.2:1).
Durham Public Schools also operates C E Jordan High (2,189 students) and Riverside High (1,900 students) alongside James E Shepard 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 James E Shepard Middle compares
James E Shepard Middle on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.3% | ▲ 7% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 423 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
423
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 30% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.3%
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
$14,937
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 212 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
41
in-school suspensions + 80 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
African American 62.2%
Hispanic or Latino 30.5%
Two or More 3.8%
White 2.4%
Asian 1.2%
Largest group: African American at 62.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.8, James E Shepard Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Durham Public Schools, which includes James E Shepard Middle.
$14,937
Per student
+24%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.5%
State 46.0%
Federal 19.5%
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 James E Shepard Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| C E Jordan High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverside High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Durham School of the Arts | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hillside High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James E Shepard Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,189
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,764
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,433
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar middle schools in Durham
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Sherwood Githens Middle
Standard public school
878 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
George L Carrington Middle
Standard public school
771 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Brogden Middle
Standard public school
753 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Neal Middle
Standard public school
706 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Rogers-Herr Middle
Standard public school
660 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Lowe's Grove Middle
Standard public school
564 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~423 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James E Shepard Middle's federal record.
- Compare James E Shepard Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Durham 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 James E Shepard Middle
How many students attend James E Shepard Middle?
James E Shepard Middle has 423 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Durham, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James E Shepard Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at James E Shepard Middle is 13.6:1, which is 14% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 13% 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 James E Shepard Middle?
70.3% of students at James E Shepard Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James E Shepard Middle?
The largest demographic group at James E Shepard Middle is African American at 62.2% of enrollment, in Durham, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James E Shepard Middle?
James E Shepard Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 James E Shepard Middle rank among middle schools in Durham?
By Resource Investment Index, James E Shepard Middle ranks #4 of 9 middle schools in Durham, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Durham on the city page.
Is James E Shepard Middle a good school?
James E Shepard Middle earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina 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 Durham Public Schools?
Besides James E Shepard Middle, Durham Public Schools also operates C E Jordan High (2,189 students), Riverside High (1,900 students), and Durham School of the Arts (1,764 students). See the Durham 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.