Enrollment
632
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Paducah, KY
Paducah Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Paducah Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210465001144
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paducah Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Paducah · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 66.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Paducah Middle School has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paducah Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Paducah, KY.
School address
District: Paducah Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210465001144 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.6%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Paducah Middle School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Paducah Middle School
Paducah Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Paducah, Kentucky, enrolling 632 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 66.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 632 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 439 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #47, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (43%) and African American (36%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 316 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 19.8% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 26.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 332 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 632 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Paducah's middle schools, it stands alongside Lone Oak Middle School (702 students): Paducah Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.8:1 vs 13.8:1).
Paducah Independent also operates Paducah Tilghman High School (860 students) and Clark Elementary School (615 students) alongside Paducah 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 Paducah Middle School compares
Paducah Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 4% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.6% | ▲ 12% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 632 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
632
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 61% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,678
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $13,211
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 316 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
285
in-school suspensions + 47 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 45.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 52.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 42.7%
African American 36.2%
Two or More 12.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 42.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.4, Paducah Middle School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paducah Independent, which includes Paducah Middle School.
$13,678
Per student
+4%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.0%
State 44.9%
Federal 26.1%
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 Paducah Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah Tilghman High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Clark Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Morgan Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mcnabb Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Paducah Head Start Preschool | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paducah Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 860
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 615
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 369
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 334
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 251
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar middle schools in Paducah
2 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 Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~632 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Paducah Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Paducah Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Paducah Independent'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 Paducah Middle School
How many students attend Paducah Middle School?
Paducah Middle School has 632 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Paducah, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paducah Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paducah Middle School is 15.8:1, which is 4% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paducah Middle School?
66.6% of students at Paducah Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paducah Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Paducah Middle School is White at 42.7% of enrollment, in Paducah, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paducah Middle School?
Paducah Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Paducah Middle School rank among middle schools in Paducah?
By Resource Investment Index, Paducah Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Paducah, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Paducah on the city page.
Is Paducah Middle School a good school?
Paducah Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky 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 Paducah Independent?
Besides Paducah Middle School, Paducah Independent also operates Paducah Tilghman High School (860 students), Clark Elementary School (615 students), and Morgan Elementary School (369 students). See the Paducah Independent 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.