Enrollment
557
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.6:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
75.4%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Oakley W Best Middle School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Oakley W Best Middle School
Oakley W Best Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, enrolling 557 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 75.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 557 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 393 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #120.
Its student body is led by White (59%) and African American (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 279 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 60.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 214 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 557 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 6 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Dearborn Heights's middle schools, it stands alongside Dearborn Stem Middle School (166 students): Oakley W Best Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.6:1 vs 20.8:1).
Dearborn Heights School District #7 also operates Annapolis High School (682 students) and Bedford School (389 students) alongside Oakley W Best 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 Oakley W Best Middle School compares
Oakley W Best Middle School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,112
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that 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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dearborn Heights School District #7, which includes Oakley W Best Middle School.
$12,112
Per student
-10%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 14.1%
State 71.1%
Federal 14.8%
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 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
- 682
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- 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.
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 (~557 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Oakley W Best Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Oakley W Best Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Dearborn Heights School District #7'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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Oakley W Best Middle School a good school?
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. 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 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.
Related tools
Compare schools
Side-by-side comparison tool
Schools in Michigan
All public schools in Michigan
Dearborn Heights School District #7
All schools in this district
Schools in Dearborn Heights
All schools in this city
School districts
Ranked by enrollment & spending
Rankings
Best schools by state & type
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.