Enrollment
913
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Renton, WA
Nelsen Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Nelsen Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530723001070
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nelsen Middle School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #4 of 4
- middle schools in Renton · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.8:1
- large classes for Washington
- 50.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Nelsen Middle School has class sizes larger than 83% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nelsen Middle School ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Renton, WA.
School address
District: Renton School District · Washington
NCES ID 530723001070 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.8:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
50.6%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Nelsen Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Nelsen Middle School
Nelsen Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Renton, Washington, enrolling 913 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 50.6% lands close to the Washington typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Washington, bigger than 92% of state schools at 913 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 189 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #170, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (27%) and Asian (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 79/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 304 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 9 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Renton's middle schools, it stands alongside Northwood Middle School (911 students): Nelsen Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.8:1 vs 31.4:1).
Renton School District also operates Hazen Senior High School (1,796 students) and Renton Senior High School (1,208 students) alongside Nelsen Middle School.
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 Nelsen Middle School compares
Nelsen Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.8:1 | ▲ 18% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.6% | ▲ 12% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 913 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.8:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
913
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
50.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.8:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 83% in Washington - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
26.7%
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
$17,639
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 304 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
55
in-school suspensions + 52 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 9 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
Hispanic or Latino 26.6%
Asian 26.5%
White 19.5%
African American 15.9%
Two or More 9.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 26.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.7, Nelsen Middle School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Renton School District, which includes Nelsen Middle School.
$17,639
Per student
-9%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.7%
State 56.5%
Federal 9.8%
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 Nelsen Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazen Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Renton Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lindbergh Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mcknight Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Vera Risdon Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nelsen Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,796
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,208
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,201
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 751
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools in Renton
3 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 Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~913 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Nelsen Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Nelsen Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Renton School District'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 Nelsen Middle School
How many students attend Nelsen Middle School?
Nelsen Middle School has 913 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Renton, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nelsen Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nelsen Middle School is 20.8:1, which is 18% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 32% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Nelsen Middle School?
50.6% of students at Nelsen Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nelsen Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Nelsen Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 26.6% of enrollment, in Renton, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nelsen Middle School?
Nelsen Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Nelsen Middle School rank among middle schools in Renton?
By Resource Investment Index, Nelsen Middle School ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Renton, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Renton on the city page.
Is Nelsen Middle School a good school?
Nelsen Middle School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington 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 Renton School District?
Besides Nelsen Middle School, Renton School District also operates Hazen Senior High School (1,796 students), Renton Senior High School (1,208 students), and Lindbergh Senior High School (1,201 students). See the Renton School District 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.