- Enrollment
- 1,253
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Meridian, MS
Magnolia Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Magnolia Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280291000564
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Magnolia Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #3 of 17
- public schools in Meridian · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Magnolia Middle School has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Magnolia Middle School ranks #3 of 17 public schools in Meridian, MS.
School address
District: Meridian Public Schools · Mississippi
NCES ID 280291000564 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Magnolia Middle School held near 443 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 34.1 → 34.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 280291000564 · Meridian, MS Middle · SMALL · TRAD
440 enr · 12.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Meridian High School (1,253 students)
Magnolia Middle School held near 443 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 34.1 → 34.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Magnolia Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Meridian High
Meridian High School
1,253 students
- Northwest Juni 484
Northwest Junior High School
484 students
- This school 440
Magnolia Middle School
440 students
- T J Harris El 434
T J Harris Elementary
434 students
- West Hills Ele 423
West Hills Elementary School
423 students
- Poplar Springs 405
Poplar Springs Elementary School
405 students
What this shows Magnolia Middle School reports 440 students on the CCD universe file.
How Magnolia Middle School compares
Magnolia Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 440 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
440
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 44% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.1%
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
$14,308
per pupil, district-wide
- above Mississippi avg of $13,683
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 220 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
79
in-school suspensions + 78 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 91.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
White 2.7%
Two or More 1.4%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 91.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.5, Magnolia Middle School is less mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Meridian Public Schools reports $14,308 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Magnolia Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| T J Harris Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Hills Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Poplar Springs Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Magnolia Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 423
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 405
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Similar middle schools in Meridian
1 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 (~440 students)
Frequently asked questions about Magnolia Middle School
How many students attend Magnolia Middle School?
Magnolia Middle School has 440 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Meridian, MS. CCD year-over-year: 428 (2022-23) → 443 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Magnolia Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Magnolia Middle School is 12.9:1, which is 3% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 18% lower 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 Magnolia Middle School?
100.0% of students at Magnolia Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Magnolia Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Magnolia Middle School is African American at 91.8% of enrollment, in Meridian, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Magnolia Middle School?
Magnolia Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 Magnolia Middle School rank among public schools in Meridian?
By Resource Investment Index, Magnolia Middle School ranks #3 of 17 public schools in Meridian, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Meridian on the city page.
What other schools are in Meridian Public Schools?
Besides Magnolia Middle School, Meridian Public Schools also operates Meridian High School (1,253 students), Northwest Junior High School (484 students), and T J Harris Elementary (434 students). See the Meridian Public Schools district page for the complete list.