Enrollment
1,278
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Indianapolis, IN
Perry Meridian Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Perry Meridian Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180882001463
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Perry Meridian Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #9 of 22
- middle schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- students per teacher
- 60.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Perry Meridian Middle School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Perry Meridian Middle School ranks #9 of 22 middle schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Perry Township Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180882001463 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
80.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.4%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Perry Meridian Middle School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Perry Meridian Middle School
Perry Meridian Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 1,278 students.
At 16:1, 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 60.4% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 95% of state schools at 1,278 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 82 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #54.
Its student body is led by White (36%) and Asian (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 639 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
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: 329 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,278 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 8 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Indianapolis's middle schools, it stands alongside Franklin Central Junior High (1,797 students): Perry Meridian Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16:1 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 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 Perry Meridian Middle School compares
Perry Meridian Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 1% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.4% | ▲ 22% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,278 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,278
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
16:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 59% in Indiana - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.9%
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
$12,395
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 639 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
115
in-school suspensions + 214 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
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 35.6%
Asian 35.2%
African American 12.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.0%
Two or More 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 35.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.7, Perry Meridian Middle School 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 Middle School.
$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 Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Meridian High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southport High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southport Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rosa Parks Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mary Bryan Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Perry Meridian Middle School'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
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
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
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
Belzer Middle School
Standard public school
1,119 students 18:1 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 (~1,278 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Perry Meridian Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Perry Meridian Middle School 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 Middle School
How many students attend Perry Meridian Middle School?
Perry Meridian Middle School has 1,278 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Perry Meridian Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Perry Meridian Middle School is 16:1, which is 1% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Perry Meridian Middle School?
60.4% of students at Perry Meridian Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Perry Meridian Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Perry Meridian Middle School is White at 35.6% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Perry Meridian Middle School?
Perry Meridian Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Middle School rank among middle schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Perry Meridian Middle School ranks #9 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 Middle School a good school?
Perry Meridian Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana. 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 Middle School, 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.