- Enrollment
- 1,947
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Kansas City, MO
Plaza Middle
Federal NCES profile for Plaza Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 292355001369
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Plaza Middle earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Missouri median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #2 of 23
- middle schools in Kansas City · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.7:1
- students per teacher
- 23.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Plaza Middle has class sizes near the Missouri median. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Plaza Middle ranks #2 of 23 middle schools in Kansas City, MO.
School address
NCES ID 292355001369 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Plaza Middle shrank from 715 students in 2022-23 to 676 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE added 53.5 → 54.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 292355001369 · Kansas City, MO Middle · MID · TRAD
673 enr · 12.7:1 · 23.9% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Park Hill High (1,947 students)
Plaza Middle shrank from 715 students in 2022-23 to 676 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE added 53.5 → 54.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Plaza Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Park Hill High
Park Hill High
1,947 students
- Park Hill Sout
Park Hill South High
1,890 students
- Walden Middle 730
Walden Middle
730 students
- This school 673
Plaza Middle
673 students
- Lakeview Middl 653
Lakeview Middle
653 students
- Union Chapel E 609
Union Chapel Elem.
609 students
What this shows Plaza Middle reports 673 students on the CCD universe file.
How Plaza Middle compares
Plaza Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.7:1 | ▼ 1% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.9% | ▼ 48% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 673 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
673
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the Missouri average of 46.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 50% in Missouri - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,382
per pupil, district-wide
- above Missouri avg of $14,087
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 337 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
94
in-school suspensions + 45 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.6%
African American 17.5%
Hispanic or Latino 12.2%
Two or More 7.1%
Asian 3.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 55.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.8, Plaza Middle is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Park Hill reports $15,382 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Plaza Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Hill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Park Hill South High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walden Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lakeview Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Union Chapel Elem. | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Plaza Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 730
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 653
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 609
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar middle schools in Kansas City
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~673 students)
Frequently asked questions about Plaza Middle
How many students attend Plaza Middle?
Plaza Middle has 673 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Kansas City, MO. CCD year-over-year: 715 (2022-23) → 676 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Plaza Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Plaza Middle is 12.7:1, which is 1% lower than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 19% 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 Plaza Middle?
23.9% of students at Plaza Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Plaza Middle?
The largest demographic group at Plaza Middle is White at 55.6% of enrollment, in Kansas City, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Plaza Middle?
Plaza Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Plaza Middle rank among middle schools in Kansas City?
By Resource Investment Index, Plaza Middle ranks #2 of 23 middle schools in Kansas City, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Kansas City on the city page.
What other schools are in Park Hill?
Besides Plaza Middle, Park Hill also operates Park Hill High (1,947 students), Park Hill South High (1,890 students), and Walden Middle (730 students). See the Park Hill district page for the complete list.