- Enrollment
- 682
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Dearborn Heights, MI
Oakley W Best Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Oakley W Best Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 261161004616
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Oakley W Best Middle School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #7 of 17
- public schools in Dearborn Heights · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.6:1
- students per teacher
- 75.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Oakley W Best Middle School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Oakley W Best Middle School ranks #7 of 17 public schools in Dearborn Heights, MI.
School address
District: Dearborn Heights School District #7 · Michigan
NCES ID 261161004616 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Oakley W Best Middle School held near 574 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 30.4 → 38.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 261161004616 · Dearborn Heights, MI Middle · MID · TRAD
557 enr · 18.6:1 · 75.4% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Annapolis High School (682 students)
Oakley W Best Middle School held near 574 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 30.4 → 38.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Oakley W Best Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Annapolis High
Annapolis High School
682 students
- This school
Oakley W Best Middle School
557 students
- Bedford School
Bedford School
389 students
- Polk Elementar
Polk Elementary School
374 students
- Pardee School
Pardee School
337 students
- Dearborn Heigh 42
Dearborn Heights Virtual Academy
42 students
What this shows Oakley W Best Middle School reports 557 students on the CCD universe file.
How Oakley W Best Middle School compares
Oakley W Best Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.6:1 | ▲ 6% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.4% | ▲ 39% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 557 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
557
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 69% in Michigan - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
60.1%
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
$14,236
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 279 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
91
in-school suspensions + 123 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 59.2%
African American 23.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Two or More 3.8%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 59.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.9, Oakley W Best Middle School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Dearborn Heights School District #7 reports $14,236 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Oakley W Best Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapolis High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Bedford School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Polk Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pardee School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dearborn Heights Virtual Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Oakley W Best Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 389
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 374
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 337
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 42
- Students per teacher
- 2.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in Dearborn Heights
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~557 students)
Frequently asked questions about Oakley W Best Middle School
How many students attend Oakley W Best Middle School?
Oakley W Best Middle School has 557 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Dearborn Heights, MI. CCD year-over-year: 586 (2022-23) → 574 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Oakley W Best Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Oakley W Best Middle School is 18.6:1, which is 6% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Oakley W Best Middle School?
75.4% of students at Oakley W Best Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Oakley W Best Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Oakley W Best Middle School is White at 59.2% of enrollment, in Dearborn Heights, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Oakley W Best Middle School?
Oakley W Best Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower 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 Oakley W Best Middle School rank among public schools in Dearborn Heights?
By Resource Investment Index, Oakley W Best Middle School ranks #7 of 17 public schools in Dearborn Heights, 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 Dearborn Heights on the city page.
What other schools are in Dearborn Heights School District #7?
Besides Oakley W Best Middle School, Dearborn Heights School District #7 also operates Annapolis High School (682 students), Bedford School (389 students), and Polk Elementary School (374 students). See the Dearborn Heights School District #7 district page for the complete list.