- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Des Moines, IA
Meredith Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Meredith Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 190897000560
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meredith Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #4 of 10
- middle schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 75.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Meredith Middle School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meredith Middle School ranks #4 of 10 middle schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000560 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Meredith Middle School held near 653 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 47.1 → 45.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 190897000560 · Des Moines, IA Middle · MID · TRAD
662 enr · 14.1:1 · 75.9% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Meredith Middle School held near 653 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 47.1 → 45.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Meredith Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
2,364 students
- Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School
2,051 students
- East High Scho
East High School
1,952 students
- North High Sch
North High School
1,428 students
- Hoover High Sc 898
Hoover High School
898 students
- This school 662
Meredith Middle School
662 students
What this shows Meredith Middle School reports 662 students on the CCD universe file.
How Meredith Middle School compares
Meredith Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▼ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.9% | ▲ 109% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 662 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
662
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 109% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 52% in Iowa - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
47.6%
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
$15,286
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 331 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
175
in-school suspensions + 79 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 30.3%
White 23.2%
Hispanic or Latino 22.1%
Asian 15.8%
Two or More 7.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 30.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.5, Meredith Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Des Moines Independent Comm School District reports $15,286 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Meredith Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meredith Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 31.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,952
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Des Moines
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Weeks Middle School
Standard public school
688 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Mccombs Middle School
Standard public school
670 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Merrill Middle School
Standard public school
657 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Brody Middle School
Standard public school
641 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Harding Middle School
Standard public school
603 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Callanan Middle School
Standard public school
553 students 17.3:1 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 (~662 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Meredith Middle School
How many students attend Meredith Middle School?
Meredith Middle School has 662 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 664 (2022-23) → 653 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meredith Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Meredith Middle School is 14.1:1, which is 5% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 10% 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 Meredith Middle School?
75.9% of students at Meredith Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meredith Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Meredith Middle School is African American at 30.3% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meredith Middle School?
Meredith Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Meredith Middle School rank among middle schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Meredith Middle School ranks #4 of 10 middle schools in Des Moines, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Besides Meredith Middle School, Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students), Roosevelt High School (2,051 students), and East High School (1,952 students). See the Des Moines Independent Comm School District district page for the complete list.