Enrollment
617
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Indianapolis, IN
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy
Federal NCES profile for Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180882002119
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #8 of 22
- middle schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 62.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy ranks #8 of 22 middle schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Perry Township Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180882002119 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.9%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 617 students.
At 15.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Indiana median, within a few percentage points of the 15.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 62.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 617 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 400 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #199.
Its student body is led by Asian (37%) and White (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 617 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 190 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 617 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Indianapolis's middle schools, it stands alongside Franklin Central Junior High (1,797 students): Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.4:1 vs 21.4:1).
Perry Township Schools also operates Perry Meridian High School (2,455 students) and Southport High School (2,431 students) alongside Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy.
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 Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy compares
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.9% | ▲ 27% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 617 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
617
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 52% in Indiana - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,395
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
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 617 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
82
in-school suspensions + 108 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 30.8 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
Asian 36.6%
White 31.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.6%
African American 10.7%
Two or More 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 36.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.8, Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Perry Township Schools, which includes Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy.
$12,395
Per student
+3%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.7%
State 58.3%
Federal 16.0%
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 Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Meridian High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southport High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southport Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Perry Meridian Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rosa Parks Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,455
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,431
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,304
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,278
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
Similar middle schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Franklin Central Junior High
Standard public school
1,797 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Fall Creek Valley Middle School
Standard public school
1,355 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
Southport Middle School
Standard public school
1,304 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Perry Meridian Middle School
Standard public school
1,278 students 16:1 students per teacher
Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center
Standard public school
1,143 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center
Standard public school
1,135 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~617 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy's federal record.
- Compare Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Perry Township Schools'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 Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy
How many students attend Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy?
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy has 617 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy is 15.4:1, which is 3% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 2% lower 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 Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy?
62.9% of students at Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy?
The largest demographic group at Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy is Asian at 36.6% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy?
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical 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 Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy rank among middle schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy ranks #8 of 22 middle schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy a good school?
Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 Perry Township Schools?
Besides Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy, Perry Township Schools also operates Perry Meridian High School (2,455 students), Southport High School (2,431 students), and Southport Middle School (1,304 students). See the Perry Township Schools 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.