- Enrollment
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Anchorage, AK
Mears Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Mears Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 020018000562
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mears Middle School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Alaska schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alaska.
- #6 of 9
- middle schools in Anchorage · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.4:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 26.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Mears Middle School has class sizes larger than 90% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mears Middle School ranks #6 of 9 middle schools in Anchorage, AK.
School address
District: Anchorage School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020018000562 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-50 students YoY
Mears Middle School shrank from 733 students in 2022-23 to 683 in 2023-24 (-6.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 35.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-50 students YoY 020018000562 · Anchorage, AK Middle · MID · TRAD
733 enr · 20.4:1 · 26.2% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: West High School (1,702 students)
Mears Middle School shrank from 733 students in 2022-23 to 683 in 2023-24 (-6.8%). Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 35.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Mears Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High Scho
West High School
1,702 students
- Bettye Davis E
Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School
1,636 students
- Service High S
Service High School
1,518 students
- Bartlett High
Bartlett High School
1,431 students
- Dimond High Sc
Dimond High School
1,373 students
- This school
Mears Middle School
733 students
What this shows Mears Middle School reports 733 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mears Middle School compares
Mears Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alaska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.4:1 | ▲ 34% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.2% | ▼ 57% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 733 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
733
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% below the Alaska average of 61.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 90% in Alaska - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
50.5%
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
$16,636
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alaska avg of $33,705
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 367 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
90
in-school suspensions + 81 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Anchorage School District reports $16,636 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mears Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Service High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bartlett High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dimond High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mears Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,636
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,518
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,431
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,373
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Anchorage
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Romig Middle School
Standard public school
1,138 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Nicholas J. Begich Middle School
Standard public school
830 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Hanshew Middle School
Standard public school
822 students 30.4:1 students per teacher
Clark Middle School
Standard public school
713 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Goldenview Middle School
Standard public school
626 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Wendler Middle School
Standard public school
602 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~733 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Mears Middle School
How many students attend Mears Middle School?
Mears Middle School has 733 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Anchorage, AK. CCD year-over-year: 733 (2022-23) → 683 (2023-24), down 50.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mears Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mears Middle School is 20.4:1, which is 34% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 30% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mears Middle School?
26.2% of students at Mears Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mears Middle School?
Mears Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (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 Mears Middle School rank among middle schools in Anchorage?
By Resource Investment Index, Mears Middle School ranks #6 of 9 middle schools in Anchorage, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Anchorage on the city page.
What other schools are in Anchorage School District?
Besides Mears Middle School, Anchorage School District also operates West High School (1,702 students), Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School (1,636 students), and Service High School (1,518 students). See the Anchorage School District district page for the complete list.