- Enrollment
- 2,222
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Madison, WI
James Wright Middle
Federal NCES profile for James Wright Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 550852000373
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Wright Middle earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #9 of 12
- middle schools in Madison · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.2:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 62.9%
- free-lunch eligible
James Wright Middle has class sizes smaller than 87% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Wright Middle ranks #9 of 12 middle schools in Madison, WI.
School address
District: Madison Metropolitan School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550852000373 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
James Wright Middle held near 259 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 24.4 → 23.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 550852000373 · Madison, WI Middle · SMALL · TRAD
245 enr · 10.2:1 · 62.9% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: West High (2,222 students)
James Wright Middle held near 259 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 24.4 → 23.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
James Wright Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High
West High
2,222 students
- Vel Phillips M
Vel Phillips Memorial High
2,004 students
- East High
East High
1,643 students
- Lafollette Hig
Lafollette High
1,541 students
- Hamilton Middl 790
Hamilton Middle
790 students
- This school 245
James Wright Middle
245 students
What this shows James Wright Middle reports 245 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Wright Middle compares
James Wright Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.2:1 | ▼ 29% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.9% | ▲ 63% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 245 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
245
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 13% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
33.1%
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
$17,411
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.6 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
27
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 49.4%
African American 29.0%
White 11.8%
Two or More 4.9%
Asian 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 49.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.3, James Wright Middle is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Madison Metropolitan School District reports $17,411 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James Wright Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vel Phillips Memorial High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lafollette High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Wright Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,643
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,541
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar middle schools in Madison
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Hamilton Middle
Standard public school
790 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Sennett Middle
Standard public school
570 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Cherokee Heights Middle
Standard public school
526 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Toki Middle
Standard public school
487 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Middle
Standard public school
462 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
O'keeffe Middle
Standard public school
434 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
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 (~245 students)
Frequently asked questions about James Wright Middle
How many students attend James Wright Middle?
James Wright Middle has 245 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Madison, WI. CCD year-over-year: 256 (2022-23) → 259 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Wright Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at James Wright Middle is 10.2:1, which is 29% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 35% 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 Wright Middle?
62.9% of students at James Wright Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Wright Middle?
The largest demographic group at James Wright Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 49.4% of enrollment, in Madison, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Wright Middle?
James Wright Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical 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 James Wright Middle rank among middle schools in Madison?
By Resource Investment Index, James Wright Middle ranks #9 of 12 middle schools in Madison, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Madison on the city page.
What other schools are in Madison Metropolitan School District?
Besides James Wright Middle, Madison Metropolitan School District also operates West High (2,222 students), Vel Phillips Memorial High (2,004 students), and East High (1,643 students). See the Madison Metropolitan School District district page for the complete list.