Enrollment
456
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Roanoke, VA
John P. Fishwick Middle
Federal NCES profile for John P. Fishwick Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510330001434
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John P. Fishwick Middle earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Virginia schools.
- #2 of 8
- middle schools in Roanoke · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 98.0%
- free-lunch eligible
John P. Fishwick Middle has class sizes smaller than 79% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John P. Fishwick Middle ranks #2 of 8 middle schools in Roanoke, VA.
School address
District: Roanoke City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510330001434 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
98.0%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+70% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How John P. Fishwick Middle compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at John P. Fishwick Middle
John P. Fishwick Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Roanoke, Virginia, enrolling 456 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12:1 puts it in the smaller third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 98.0% of students qualify for free meals, 70% above the Virginia average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 456 students, its enrollment sits close to the Virginia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 288 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #71.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and African American (30%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 228 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 319 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 456 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Roanoke's middle schools, it stands alongside Cave Spring Middle (746 students): John P. Fishwick Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12:1 vs 14.1:1).
Roanoke City Public Schools also operates Patrick Henry High (2,030 students) and William Fleming High (1,957 students) alongside John P. Fishwick 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 John P. Fishwick Middle compares
John P. Fishwick Middle on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 14% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.0% | ▲ 70% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 456 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
456
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
98.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 70% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
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
12:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 21% in Virginia - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
25.4%
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
$15,299
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 228 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
198
in-school suspensions + 121 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 43.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 70.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
White 38.6%
African American 29.8%
Hispanic or Latino 20.4%
Two or More 9.2%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 38.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.2, John P. Fishwick Middle is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Roanoke City Public Schools, which includes John P. Fishwick Middle.
$15,299
Per student
+4%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.8%
State 43.6%
Federal 21.7%
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 John P. Fishwick Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Henry High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Fleming High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Breckinridge Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Round Hill Elementary | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westside Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John P. Fishwick Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,957
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 733
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 720
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 624
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar middle schools in Roanoke
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Cave Spring Middle
Standard public school
746 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Breckinridge Middle
Standard public school
733 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Northside Middle
Standard public school
648 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Woodrow Wilson Middle
Standard public school
601 students 14:1 students per teacher
James Madison Middle
Standard public school
598 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Hidden Valley Middle
Standard public school
581 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~456 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on John P. Fishwick Middle's federal record.
- Compare John P. Fishwick Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Roanoke City 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 John P. Fishwick Middle
How many students attend John P. Fishwick Middle?
John P. Fishwick Middle has 456 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Roanoke, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John P. Fishwick Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at John P. Fishwick Middle is 12:1, which is 14% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 24% 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 John P. Fishwick Middle?
98.0% of students at John P. Fishwick Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John P. Fishwick Middle?
The largest demographic group at John P. Fishwick Middle is White at 38.6% of enrollment, in Roanoke, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John P. Fishwick Middle?
John P. Fishwick Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 John P. Fishwick Middle rank among middle schools in Roanoke?
By Resource Investment Index, John P. Fishwick Middle ranks #2 of 8 middle schools in Roanoke, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Roanoke on the city page.
Is John P. Fishwick Middle a good school?
John P. Fishwick Middle earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Virginia 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 Roanoke City Public Schools?
Besides John P. Fishwick Middle, Roanoke City Public Schools also operates Patrick Henry High (2,030 students), William Fleming High (1,957 students), and Breckinridge Middle (733 students). See the Roanoke City 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.