Enrollment
871
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sacramento, CA
James Rutter Middle
Federal NCES profile for James Rutter Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 061233001412
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Rutter Middle earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #11 of 18
- middle schools in Sacramento · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.8:1
- students per teacher
- 62.5%
- free-lunch eligible
James Rutter Middle has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Rutter Middle ranks #11 of 18 middle schools in Sacramento, CA.
School address
District: Elk Grove Unified · California
NCES ID 061233001412 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
+13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Rutter Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Rutter Middle
James Rutter Middle is a higher-need, large middle school in Sacramento, California, enrolling 871 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 19.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 62.5% lands close to the California typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 871 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,260 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #532.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (40%) and Asian (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 436 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Sacramento's middle schools, it stands alongside Sutter Middle (1,181 students): James Rutter Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.8:1 vs 27.5:1).
Elk Grove Unified also operates Franklin High (2,650 students) and Pleasant Grove High (2,536 students) alongside James Rutter 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 Rutter Middle compares
James Rutter Middle on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.8:1 | ▼ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.5% | ▲ 13% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 871 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.8:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
871
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.8:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 33% in California - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
39.7%
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
$14,134
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 436 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 136 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.6 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 40.4%
Asian 34.7%
African American 12.2%
White 4.9%
Two or More 3.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.6, James Rutter Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Elk Grove Unified, which includes James Rutter Middle.
$14,134
Per student
-14%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.1%
State 65.7%
Federal 12.2%
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 Rutter Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pleasant Grove High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sheldon High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Monterey Trail High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Laguna Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Rutter Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,650
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,536
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 2,368
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,263
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,142
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Sacramento
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Sutter Middle
Standard public school
1,181 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
T. R. Smedberg Middle
Standard public school
1,065 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Arden Middle
Standard public school
1,010 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Samuel Jackman Middle
Standard public school
909 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
California Middle
Standard public school
782 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Will C. Wood Middle
Standard public school
680 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~871 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Rutter Middle's federal record.
- Compare James Rutter Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Elk Grove Unified'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 Rutter Middle
How many students attend James Rutter Middle?
James Rutter Middle has 871 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sacramento, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Rutter Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at James Rutter Middle is 19.8:1, which is 8% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 26% higher 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 Rutter Middle?
62.5% of students at James Rutter Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Rutter Middle?
The largest demographic group at James Rutter Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 40.4% of enrollment, in Sacramento, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Rutter Middle?
James Rutter Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (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 James Rutter Middle rank among middle schools in Sacramento?
By Resource Investment Index, James Rutter Middle ranks #11 of 18 middle schools in Sacramento, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Sacramento on the city page.
Is James Rutter Middle a good school?
James Rutter Middle earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California 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 Elk Grove Unified?
Besides James Rutter Middle, Elk Grove Unified also operates Franklin High (2,650 students), Pleasant Grove High (2,536 students), and Sheldon High (2,368 students). See the Elk Grove Unified 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.