- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Merkel, TX
Merkel Middle
Federal NCES profile for Merkel Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 483034003397
👥 S:T ratio 61
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merkel Middle earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of Texas schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Merkel · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 9.8:1
- small classes for Texas
- 49.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Merkel Middle has class sizes smaller than 91% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merkel Middle ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Merkel, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Merkel Middle held near 242 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.5 → 23.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 483034003397 · Merkel, TX Middle · SMALL · TRAD
246 enr · 9.8:1 · 49.2% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Merkel El (563 students)
Merkel Middle held near 242 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.5 → 23.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Merkel Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Merkel El
Merkel El
563 students
- Merkel H S
Merkel H S
281 students
- This school
Merkel Middle
246 students
What this shows Merkel Middle reports 246 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merkel Middle compares
Merkel Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.8:1 | ▼ 33% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.2% | ▼ 21% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 246 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.8:1
Leaner classes than 90% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
246
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% below the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.8:1
students per teacher
- 33% below state mean
Top 9% in Texas - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.3%
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
$11,577
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 246 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
55
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 66.7%
Hispanic or Latino 28.5%
Two or More 4.1%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 66.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.2, Merkel Middle is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merkel Isd reports $11,577 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merkel Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merkel El | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Merkel H S | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merkel Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 281
- Students per teacher
- 8.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
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 (~246 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merkel Middle
How many students attend Merkel Middle?
Merkel Middle has 246 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Merkel, TX. CCD year-over-year: 248 (2022-23) → 242 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merkel Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Merkel Middle is 9.8:1, which is 33% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 38% 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 Merkel Middle?
49.2% of students at Merkel Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merkel Middle?
The largest demographic group at Merkel Middle is White at 66.7% of enrollment, in Merkel, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merkel Middle?
Merkel Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (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 Merkel Middle rank among public schools in Merkel?
By Resource Investment Index, Merkel Middle ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Merkel, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Merkel Isd?
Besides Merkel Middle, Merkel Isd also operates Merkel El (563 students) and Merkel H S (281 students). See the Merkel Isd district page for the complete list.