- Enrollment
- 4,291
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Miami, FL
Paul W. Bell Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Paul W. Bell Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120039003051
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul W. Bell Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Florida schools.
- #28 of 37
- middle schools in Miami · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.7:1
- students per teacher
- 53.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul W. Bell Middle School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul W. Bell Middle School ranks #28 of 37 middle schools in Miami, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+43 students YoY
Paul W. Bell Middle School grew from 486 students in 2022-23 to 529 in 2023-24 (+8.8%).
Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+43 students YoY 120039003051 · Miami, FL Middle · SMALL · TRAD
483 enr · 16.7:1 · 53.7% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: John a. Ferguson Senior High (4,291 students)
Paul W. Bell Middle School grew from 486 students in 2022-23 to 529 in 2023-24 (+8.8%). Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Paul W. Bell Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- John a. Fergus
John a. Ferguson Senior High
4,291 students
- Coral Reef Sen
Coral Reef Senior High School
3,399 students
- South Dade Sen
South Dade Senior High School
3,382 students
- Miami Senior H
Miami Senior High School
3,100 students
- Hialeah Garden
Hialeah Gardens Senior High School
3,009 students
- This school 483
Paul W. Bell Middle School
483 students
What this shows Paul W. Bell Middle School reports 483 students on the CCD universe file.
How Paul W. Bell Middle School compares
Paul W. Bell Middle School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.7:1 | ▼ 6% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.7% | ▲ 3% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 483 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
483
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 52% in Florida - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.5%
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
$13,138
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 483 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.9%
White 1.4%
African American 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.1, Paul W. Bell Middle School is less mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Miami-Dade reports $13,138 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Paul W. Bell Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John a. Ferguson Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Coral Reef Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Dade Senior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Miami Senior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hialeah Gardens Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul W. Bell Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,399
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 3,382
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 3,100
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 3,009
- Students per teacher
- 28.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
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 (~483 students)
Frequently asked questions about Paul W. Bell Middle School
How many students attend Paul W. Bell Middle School?
Paul W. Bell Middle School has 483 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Miami, FL. CCD year-over-year: 486 (2022-23) → 529 (2023-24), up 43.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul W. Bell Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul W. Bell Middle School is 16.7:1, which is 6% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 6% 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 Paul W. Bell Middle School?
53.7% of students at Paul W. Bell Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul W. Bell Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Paul W. Bell Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 97.9% of enrollment, in Miami, FL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul W. Bell Middle School?
Paul W. Bell Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (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 Paul W. Bell Middle School rank among middle schools in Miami?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul W. Bell Middle School ranks #28 of 37 middle schools in Miami, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Miami on the city page.
What other schools are in Miami-Dade?
Besides Paul W. Bell Middle School, Miami-Dade also operates John a. Ferguson Senior High (4,291 students), Coral Reef Senior High School (3,399 students), and South Dade Senior High School (3,382 students). See the Miami-Dade district page for the complete list.