Enrollment
750
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Jackson, MI
Middle School at Parkside
Federal NCES profile for Middle School at Parkside, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 261962005631
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Middle School at Parkside earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #9 of 25
- public schools in Jackson · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.6:1
- students per teacher
- 79.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Middle School at Parkside has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Middle School at Parkside ranks #9 of 25 public schools in Jackson, MI.
School address
District: Jackson Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261962005631 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
79.1%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Middle School at Parkside compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Middle School at Parkside
Middle School at Parkside is a high-poverty, large middle school in Jackson, Michigan, enrolling 750 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 79.1% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Michigan, bigger than 90% of state schools at 750 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 237 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #81.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and African American (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 375 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 64.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 249 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 750 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 8 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Jackson's middle schools, it stands alongside Fourth Street Learning Center (27 students): Middle School at Parkside is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.6:1 vs 5.4:1).
Jackson Public Schools also operates Jackson High School (989 students) and South Central Michigan Virtual (402 students) alongside Middle School at Parkside.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Middle School at Parkside compares
Middle School at Parkside on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▼ 11% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.1% | ▲ 46% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 750 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
750
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
79.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 38% in Michigan - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
64.9%
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
$15,274
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 375 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
37
in-school suspensions + 212 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 33.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 38.8%
African American 31.9%
Two or More 17.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 38.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.8, Middle School at Parkside is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Jackson Public Schools, which includes Middle School at Parkside.
$15,274
Per student
+13%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.8%
State 49.8%
Federal 21.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Middle School at Parkside Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Central Michigan Virtual | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cascades Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northeast Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hunt Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Middle School at Parkside's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 402
- Students per teacher
- 80.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 398
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 366
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar middle schools in Jackson
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~750 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Middle School at Parkside's federal record.
- Compare Middle School at Parkside against another school. Compare schools
- Jackson Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Middle School at Parkside
How many students attend Middle School at Parkside?
Middle School at Parkside has 750 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Jackson, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Middle School at Parkside?
The student-teacher ratio at Middle School at Parkside is 15.6:1, which is 11% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 1% 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 Middle School at Parkside?
79.1% of students at Middle School at Parkside are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Middle School at Parkside?
The largest demographic group at Middle School at Parkside is White at 38.8% of enrollment, in Jackson, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Middle School at Parkside?
Middle School at Parkside has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Middle School at Parkside rank among public schools in Jackson?
By Resource Investment Index, Middle School at Parkside ranks #9 of 25 public schools in Jackson, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Jackson on the city page.
Is Middle School at Parkside a good school?
Middle School at Parkside earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Jackson Public Schools?
Besides Middle School at Parkside, Jackson Public Schools also operates Jackson High School (989 students), South Central Michigan Virtual (402 students), and Cascades Elementary School (398 students). See the Jackson Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.