Enrollment
460
Nevada · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Gardnerville, NV
Pau Wa Lu Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Pau Wa Lu Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 320009000422
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 69
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pau Wa Lu Middle School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nevada median.
- #2 of 6
- public schools in Gardnerville · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 19.2:1
- students per teacher
- 33.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Pau Wa Lu Middle School has class sizes near the Nevada median. Computed live against every Nevada school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pau Wa Lu Middle School ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Gardnerville, NV.
School address
District: Douglas County School District · Nevada
NCES ID 320009000422 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.2:1
vs 20.5:1 Nevada avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
33.3%
vs 76.8% Nevada avg
-57% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Pau Wa Lu Middle School compares with Nevada and U.S. medians
What stands out at Pau Wa Lu Middle School
Pau Wa Lu Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in Gardnerville, Nevada, enrolling 460 students.
At 19.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Nevada median, within a few percentage points of the 20.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 33.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 460 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nevada median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 733 Nevada schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Against 57 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #7.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%) (diversity index 56/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 153 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Douglas County School District spends $12,077 per pupil, 27% below the Nevada average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 128 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 460 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Gardnerville's middle schools, it stands alongside Carson Valley Middle School (591 students): Pau Wa Lu Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.2:1 vs 21.9:1).
Douglas County School District also operates Douglas High School (1,510 students) and Carson Valley Middle School (591 students) alongside Pau Wa Lu 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 Pau Wa Lu Middle School compares
Pau Wa Lu Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Nevada and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nevada | Nevada avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▼ 6% | 20.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.3% | ▼ 57% | 76.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 460 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
460
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
33.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% below the Nevada average of 76.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 58% in Nevada - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.7%
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
$12,077
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nevada avg of $16,454
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 153 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
65
in-school suspensions + 63 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.8 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 60.2%
Hispanic or Latino 26.5%
Two or More 7.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.1%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 60.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.0, Pau Wa Lu Middle School is about as mixed as the Nevada school average of 56.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Douglas County School District, which includes Pau Wa Lu Middle School.
$12,077
Per student
-27%
vs Nevada
Avg $16,454
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 9.6%
State 80.9%
Federal 9.5%
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 Pau Wa Lu Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Carson Valley Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Minden Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jacks Valley Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| C. C. Meneley Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pau Wa Lu Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,510
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 591
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 371
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 363
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar middle schools in Gardnerville
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 Nevada, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~460 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Pau Wa Lu Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Pau Wa Lu Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Douglas County 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 Pau Wa Lu Middle School
How many students attend Pau Wa Lu Middle School?
Pau Wa Lu Middle School has 460 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Gardnerville, NV.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pau Wa Lu Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pau Wa Lu Middle School is 19.2:1, which is 6% lower than the Nevada average of 20.5:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pau Wa Lu Middle School?
33.3% of students at Pau Wa Lu Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nevada average of 76.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pau Wa Lu Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Pau Wa Lu Middle School is White at 60.2% of enrollment, in Gardnerville, NV. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pau Wa Lu Middle School?
Pau Wa Lu Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Pau Wa Lu Middle School rank among public schools in Gardnerville?
By Resource Investment Index, Pau Wa Lu Middle School ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Gardnerville, NV. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Gardnerville on the city page.
Is Pau Wa Lu Middle School a good school?
Pau Wa Lu Middle School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nevada median. 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 Douglas County School District?
Besides Pau Wa Lu Middle School, Douglas County School District also operates Douglas High School (1,510 students), Carson Valley Middle School (591 students), and Minden Elementary School (371 students). See the Douglas County 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.