- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Des Moines, IA
Merrill Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Merrill Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 190897000561
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 5
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merrill Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #7 of 10
- middle schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.3:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 38.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Merrill Middle School has class sizes larger than 90% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merrill Middle School ranks #7 of 10 middle schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000561 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Merrill Middle School held near 651 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 36.1 → 37.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+17 students YoY 190897000561 · Des Moines, IA Middle · MID · TRAD
657 enr · 18.3:1 · 38.0% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Merrill Middle School held near 651 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount). Teacher FTE added 36.1 → 37.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Merrill 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 657
Merrill Middle School
657 students
What this shows Merrill Middle School reports 657 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merrill Middle School compares
Merrill 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 | 18.3:1 | ▲ 24% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.0% | ▲ 4% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 657 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
657
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 90% in Iowa - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
38.1%
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
$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 329 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 89 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 58.8%
African American 15.8%
Hispanic or Latino 13.2%
Two or More 8.4%
Asian 3.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 58.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.4, Merrill 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 Merrill Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merrill 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
Meredith Middle School
Standard public school
662 students 14.1:1 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 (~657 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about Merrill Middle School
How many students attend Merrill Middle School?
Merrill Middle School has 657 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 634 (2022-23) → 651 (2023-24), nearly flat (+17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merrill Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Merrill Middle School is 18.3:1, which is 24% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Merrill Middle School?
38.0% of students at Merrill Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merrill Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Merrill Middle School is White at 58.8% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merrill Middle School?
Merrill Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Merrill Middle School rank among middle schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Merrill Middle School ranks #7 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 Merrill 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.