- Enrollment
- 692
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lafayette, AL
John P Powell Middle School
Federal NCES profile for John P Powell Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010060000269
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John P Powell Middle School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also one of the smallest schools in Alabama.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Lafayette · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.5:1
- students per teacher
- 90.7%
- free-lunch eligible
John P Powell Middle School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John P Powell Middle School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Lafayette, AL.
School address
District: Chambers County · Alabama
NCES ID 010060000269 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
John P Powell Middle School grew from 129 students in 2022-23 to 144 in 2023-24 (+11.6%).
Teacher FTE held 8.9 → 9.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+15 students YoY 010060000269 · Lafayette, AL Middle · SMALL · TRAD
140 enr · 17.5:1 · 90.7% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley High School (692 students)
John P Powell Middle School grew from 129 students in 2022-23 to 144 in 2023-24 (+11.6%). Teacher FTE held 8.9 → 9.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
John P Powell Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Valley High Sc
Valley High School
692 students
- Fairfax Elemen
Fairfax Elementary School
689 students
- W F Burns Midd
W F Burns Middle School
545 students
- Huguley Elemen
Huguley Elementary School
383 students
- Lafayette East
Lafayette Eastside Elementary School
311 students
- This school 140
John P Powell Middle School
140 students
What this shows John P Powell Middle School reports 140 students on the CCD universe file.
How John P Powell Middle School compares
John P Powell Middle School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.5:1 | ▼ 1% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.7% | ▲ 54% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 140 | top 97% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
140
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
90.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
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
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 52% in Alabama - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
12.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,105
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
32
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 72.9%
White 17.9%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
Two or More 2.1%
Largest group: African American at 72.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.1, John P Powell Middle School is about as mixed as the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Chambers County reports $13,105 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How John P Powell Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fairfax Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| W F Burns Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Huguley Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lafayette Eastside Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John P Powell Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 689
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 545
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 383
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 311
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
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 (~140 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about John P Powell Middle School
How many students attend John P Powell Middle School?
John P Powell Middle School has 140 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lafayette, AL. CCD year-over-year: 129 (2022-23) → 144 (2023-24), up 15.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John P Powell Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at John P Powell Middle School is 17.5:1, which is 1% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 11% 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 John P Powell Middle School?
90.7% of students at John P Powell Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John P Powell Middle School?
The largest demographic group at John P Powell Middle School is African American at 72.9% of enrollment, in Lafayette, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John P Powell Middle School?
John P Powell Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 John P Powell Middle School rank among public schools in Lafayette?
By Resource Investment Index, John P Powell Middle School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Lafayette, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Chambers County?
Besides John P Powell Middle School, Chambers County also operates Valley High School (692 students), Fairfax Elementary School (689 students), and W F Burns Middle School (545 students). See the Chambers County district page for the complete list.