Enrollment
1,137
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sterling, VA
River Bend Middle
Federal NCES profile for River Bend Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510225002288
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
River Bend Middle earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Virginia schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Sterling · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.2:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 33.4%
- free-lunch eligible
River Bend Middle has class sizes smaller than 76% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, River Bend Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Sterling, VA.
School address
District: Loudoun County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510225002288 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
93.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.2:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
33.4%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-42% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How River Bend Middle compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at River Bend Middle
River Bend Middle is a large middle school in Sterling, Virginia, enrolling 1,137 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 33.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 1,137 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Among 192 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #13, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (40%) and Hispanic or Latino (31%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 284 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
12.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Loudoun County Public Schools spends $18,953 per pupil, 29% above the Virginia average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Sterling's middle schools, it stands alongside Sterling Middle (967 students): River Bend Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (12.2:1 vs 10.1:1).
Loudoun County Public Schools also operates Independence High (2,166 students) and Lightridge High (2,030 students) alongside River Bend Middle.
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 River Bend Middle compares
River Bend Middle on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.2:1 | ▼ 12% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.4% | ▼ 42% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,137 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
1,137
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
33.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 24% in Virginia - lower ratio than 76% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
12.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$18,953
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 284 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
72
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.1 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 40.1%
Hispanic or Latino 31.1%
Asian 13.7%
African American 8.1%
Two or More 6.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 40.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.3, River Bend Middle is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Loudoun County Public Schools, which includes River Bend Middle.
$18,953
Per student
+29%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
+14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 67.9%
State 27.1%
Federal 5.0%
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 River Bend Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lightridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freedom High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Briar Woods High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Champe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to River Bend Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,166
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,885
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,862
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,851
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar middle schools in Sterling
2 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 Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,137 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on River Bend Middle's federal record.
- Compare River Bend Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Loudoun County Public 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 River Bend Middle
How many students attend River Bend Middle?
River Bend Middle has 1,137 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sterling, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Bend Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at River Bend Middle is 12.2:1, which is 12% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 22% 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 River Bend Middle?
33.4% of students at River Bend Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of River Bend Middle?
The largest demographic group at River Bend Middle is White at 40.1% of enrollment, in Sterling, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for River Bend Middle?
River Bend Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (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 River Bend Middle rank among middle schools in Sterling?
By Resource Investment Index, River Bend Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Sterling, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Sterling on the city page.
Is River Bend Middle a good school?
River Bend Middle earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Virginia 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 Loudoun County Public Schools?
Besides River Bend Middle, Loudoun County Public Schools also operates Independence High (2,166 students), Lightridge High (2,030 students), and Freedom High (1,885 students). See the Loudoun County Public 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.