- Enrollment
- 1,846
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Des Moines, WA
Pacific Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Pacific Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530354000543
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pacific Middle School earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #2 of 8
- public schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 20.1:1
- large classes for Washington
- 70.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Pacific Middle School has class sizes larger than 79% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pacific Middle School ranks #2 of 8 public schools in Des Moines, WA.
School address
District: Highline School District · Washington
NCES ID 530354000543 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-25 students YoY
Pacific Middle School held near 626 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 30.9 → 33.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-25 students YoY 530354000543 · Des Moines, WA Middle · MID · TRAD
604 enr · 20.1:1 · 70.0% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Mount Rainier High School (1,846 students)
Pacific Middle School held near 626 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount). Teacher FTE added 30.9 → 33.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Pacific Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier High School
1,846 students
- Highline High
Highline High School
1,423 students
- Evergreen High
Evergreen High School
1,080 students
- Glacier Middle
Glacier Middle School
803 students
- Cascade Middle 671
Cascade Middle School
671 students
- This school 604
Pacific Middle School
604 students
What this shows Pacific Middle School reports 604 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pacific Middle School compares
Pacific Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▲ 14% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.0% | ▲ 56% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 604 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
604
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 79% in Washington - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
14.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$20,594
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 201 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
88
in-school suspensions + 57 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 24.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 36.7%
Asian 18.6%
African American 16.9%
White 13.6%
Two or More 9.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.3, Pacific Middle School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Highline School District reports $20,594 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pacific Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highline High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Evergreen High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Glacier Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cascade Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pacific Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,423
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 803
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 671
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
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 (~604 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Middle School
How many students attend Pacific Middle School?
Pacific Middle School has 604 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Des Moines, WA. CCD year-over-year: 651 (2022-23) → 626 (2023-24), nearly flat (-25).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pacific Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pacific Middle School is 20.1:1, which is 14% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pacific Middle School?
70.0% of students at Pacific Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pacific Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Pacific Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 36.7% of enrollment, in Des Moines, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pacific Middle School?
Pacific Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher 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 Pacific Middle School rank among public schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Pacific Middle School ranks #2 of 8 public schools in Des Moines, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in Highline School District?
Besides Pacific Middle School, Highline School District also operates Mount Rainier High School (1,846 students), Highline High School (1,423 students), and Evergreen High School (1,080 students). See the Highline School District district page for the complete list.