- Enrollment
- 1,231
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · East Lansing, MI
Macdonald Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Macdonald Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 261260004979
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Macdonald Middle School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #9 of 11
- public schools in East Lansing · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.4:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 33.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Macdonald Middle School has class sizes larger than 87% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Macdonald Middle School ranks #9 of 11 public schools in East Lansing, MI.
School address
District: East Lansing School District · Michigan
NCES ID 261260004979 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Macdonald Middle School held near 842 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 40.9 → 43.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-22 students YoY 261260004979 · East Lansing, MI Middle · MID · TRAD
857 enr · 21.4:1 · 33.7% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: East Lansing High School (1,231 students)
Macdonald Middle School held near 842 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount). Teacher FTE added 40.9 → 43.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Macdonald Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East Lansing H
East Lansing High School
1,231 students
- This school
Macdonald Middle School
857 students
- Marble School 306
Marble School
306 students
- Glencairn Scho 298
Glencairn School
298 students
- Whitehills Ele 286
Whitehills Elementary School
286 students
- Robert L Green 273
Robert L Green Elementary
273 students
What this shows Macdonald Middle School reports 857 students on the CCD universe file.
How Macdonald Middle School compares
Macdonald Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.4:1 | ▲ 22% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.7% | ▼ 38% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 857 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.4:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
857
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.4:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 87% in Michigan - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
37.5%
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
$13,663
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 286 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 52.9%
African American 18.0%
Hispanic or Latino 13.2%
Two or More 11.0%
Asian 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 52.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.6, Macdonald Middle School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for East Lansing School District reports $13,663 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Macdonald Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Lansing High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Marble School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Glencairn School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Whitehills Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Robert L Green Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Macdonald Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 306
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 298
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 286
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 273
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
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 (~857 students)
Frequently asked questions about Macdonald Middle School
How many students attend Macdonald Middle School?
Macdonald Middle School has 857 students enrolled. It is a middle school in East Lansing, MI. CCD year-over-year: 864 (2022-23) → 842 (2023-24), nearly flat (-22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Macdonald Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Macdonald Middle School is 21.4:1, which is 22% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Macdonald Middle School?
33.7% of students at Macdonald Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Macdonald Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Macdonald Middle School is White at 52.9% of enrollment, in East Lansing, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Macdonald Middle School?
Macdonald Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower 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 Macdonald Middle School rank among public schools in East Lansing?
By Resource Investment Index, Macdonald Middle School ranks #9 of 11 public schools in East Lansing, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in East Lansing on the city page.
What other schools are in East Lansing School District?
Besides Macdonald Middle School, East Lansing School District also operates East Lansing High School (1,231 students), Marble School (306 students), and Glencairn School (298 students). See the East Lansing School District district page for the complete list.