- Enrollment
- 1,774
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lawrence, KS
Lawrence Southwest Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Lawrence Southwest Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 200840000876
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lawrence Southwest Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median.
- #1 of 4
- middle schools in Lawrence · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 20.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Lawrence Southwest Middle School has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lawrence Southwest Middle School ranks #1 of 4 middle schools in Lawrence, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Lawrence Southwest Middle School held near 654 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 45.1 → 41.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 200840000876 · Lawrence, KS Middle · MID · TRAD
641 enr · 14.2:1 · 20.3% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Lawrence Free State High (1,774 students)
Lawrence Southwest Middle School held near 654 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 45.1 → 41.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Lawrence Southwest Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lawrence Free
Lawrence Free State High
1,774 students
- Lawrence High
Lawrence High
1,454 students
- Lawrence West 648
Lawrence West Middle School
648 students
- This school 641
Lawrence Southwest Middle School
641 students
- Langston Hughe 560
Langston Hughes Elem
560 students
- Lawrence Virtu 543
Lawrence Virtual School
543 students
What this shows Lawrence Southwest Middle School reports 641 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lawrence Southwest Middle School compares
Lawrence Southwest Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▲ 3% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.3% | ▼ 52% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 641 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
641
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 62% in Kansas - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.8%
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
$12,176
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 321 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
25
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 68.6%
Two or More 12.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Asian 4.5%
African American 4.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Largest group: White at 68.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.2, Lawrence Southwest Middle School is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lawrence reports $12,176 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lawrence Southwest Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Free State High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawrence High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawrence West Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Langston Hughes Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawrence Virtual School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lawrence Southwest Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,454
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 543
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar middle schools in Lawrence
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~641 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lawrence Southwest Middle School
How many students attend Lawrence Southwest Middle School?
Lawrence Southwest Middle School has 641 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lawrence, KS. CCD year-over-year: 641 (2022-23) → 654 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lawrence Southwest Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lawrence Southwest Middle School is 14.2:1, which is 3% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lawrence Southwest Middle School?
20.3% of students at Lawrence Southwest Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lawrence Southwest Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Lawrence Southwest Middle School is White at 68.6% of enrollment, in Lawrence, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lawrence Southwest Middle School?
Lawrence Southwest Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Lawrence Southwest Middle School rank among middle schools in Lawrence?
By Resource Investment Index, Lawrence Southwest Middle School ranks #1 of 4 middle schools in Lawrence, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Lawrence on the city page.
What other schools are in Lawrence?
Besides Lawrence Southwest Middle School, Lawrence also operates Lawrence Free State High (1,774 students), Lawrence High (1,454 students), and Lawrence West Middle School (648 students). See the Lawrence district page for the complete list.