Enrollment
441
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · La Center, WA
La Center Middle School
Federal NCES profile for La Center Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530417000649
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Center Middle School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Washington schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in La Center · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21:1
- large classes for Washington
- 21.9%
- free-lunch eligible
La Center Middle School has class sizes larger than 84% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Center Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in La Center, WA.
School address
District: La Center School District · Washington
NCES ID 530417000649 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.9%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How La Center Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at La Center Middle School
La Center Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in La Center, Washington, enrolling 441 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 21.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 441 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Among 440 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #344, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (81% of enrollment) (diversity index 33/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 441 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
15.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding La Center School District spends $13,516 per pupil, 31% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
La Center School District also operates La Center Elementary (789 students) and La Center High School (555 students) alongside La Center Middle School.
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 La Center Middle School compares
La Center Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21:1 | ▲ 19% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.9% | ▼ 51% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 441 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
441
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 84% in Washington - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
15.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,516
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 441 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 80.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.3%
Two or More 5.0%
Asian 0.9%
African American 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 80.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.3, La Center Middle School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for La Center School District, which includes La Center Middle School.
$13,516
Per student
-31%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.4%
State 67.7%
Federal 6.9%
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 La Center Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Center Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| La Center High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| La Center Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Center Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 789
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 555
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 38
- Students per teacher
- 38:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~441 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on La Center Middle School's federal record.
- Compare La Center Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- La Center School District'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 La Center Middle School
How many students attend La Center Middle School?
La Center Middle School has 441 students enrolled. It is a middle school in La Center, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Center Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at La Center Middle School is 21:1, which is 19% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 34% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at La Center Middle School?
21.9% of students at La Center Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Center Middle School?
The largest demographic group at La Center Middle School is White at 80.6% of enrollment, in La Center, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Center Middle School?
La Center Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 La Center Middle School rank among public schools in La Center?
By Resource Investment Index, La Center Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in La Center, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in La Center on the city page.
Is La Center Middle School a good school?
La Center Middle School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Washington 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 La Center School District?
Besides La Center Middle School, La Center School District also operates La Center Elementary (789 students), La Center High School (555 students), and La Center Academy (38 students). See the La Center School District 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.