Enrollment
641
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
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
Teachers (FTE)
45.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
+3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.3%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
-52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Lawrence Southwest Middle School compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Lawrence Southwest Middle School
Lawrence Southwest Middle School is a large middle school in Lawrence, Kansas, enrolling 641 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Kansas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 20.3% free-meal eligibility runs 52% below the Kansas average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kansas, bigger than 90% of state schools at 641 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Against 160 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #79.
Its student body is led by White (69%) and Two or More (12%) (diversity index 50/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 321 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Lawrence spends $12,091 per pupil, 22% below the Kansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Lawrence's middle schools, it stands alongside Lawrence West Middle School (648 students): Lawrence Southwest Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 15.4:1).
Lawrence also operates Lawrence Free State High (1,774 students) and Lawrence High (1,454 students) alongside Lawrence Southwest 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 Lawrence Southwest Middle School compares
Lawrence Southwest Middle School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,091
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,487
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lawrence, which includes Lawrence Southwest Middle School.
$12,091
Per student
-22%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.8%
State 59.4%
Federal 6.8%
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 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
- 1,774
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- 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.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~641 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Lawrence Southwest Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Lawrence Southwest Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Lawrence'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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Lawrence Southwest Middle School a good school?
Lawrence Southwest Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. 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 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.
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.