Enrollment
369
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Hobart, IN
River Forest Middle School
Federal NCES profile for River Forest Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180462000780
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
River Forest Middle School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #3 of 9
- public schools in Hobart · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.8:1
- students per teacher
- 81.3%
- free-lunch eligible
River Forest Middle School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, River Forest Middle School ranks #3 of 9 public schools in Hobart, IN.
School address
District: River Forest Community Sch Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180462000780 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.8:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
81.3%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+64% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How River Forest Middle School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at River Forest Middle School
River Forest Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Hobart, Indiana, enrolling 369 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 81.3% of students qualify for free meals, 64% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 369 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 233 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #29.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (43%) and White (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 369 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
11.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Discipline events run high: 88 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 369 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Hobart's middle schools, it stands alongside Hobart Middle School (905 students): River Forest Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.8:1 vs 18.9:1).
River Forest Community Sch Corp also operates River Forest High School (565 students) and Henry S Evans Elementary School (400 students) alongside River Forest 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 River Forest Middle School compares
River Forest 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 | 16.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.3% | ▲ 64% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 369 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
369
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
81.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 69% in Indiana - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
11.7%
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
$11,457
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 369 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 88 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.8 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
Hispanic or Latino 42.5%
White 31.7%
African American 17.3%
Two or More 7.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, River Forest 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 River Forest Community Sch Corp, which includes River Forest Middle School.
$11,457
Per student
-5%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 23.6%
State 65.0%
Federal 11.4%
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 Forest Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Forest High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henry S Evans Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| John I Meister Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to River Forest Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 373
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar middle schools in Hobart
1 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 Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~369 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on River Forest Middle School's federal record.
- Compare River Forest Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- River Forest Community Sch Corp'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 Forest Middle School
How many students attend River Forest Middle School?
River Forest Middle School has 369 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Hobart, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Forest Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at River Forest Middle School is 16.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at River Forest Middle School?
81.3% of students at River Forest Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of River Forest Middle School?
The largest demographic group at River Forest Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 42.5% of enrollment, in Hobart, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for River Forest Middle School?
River Forest Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Forest Middle School rank among public schools in Hobart?
By Resource Investment Index, River Forest Middle School ranks #3 of 9 public schools in Hobart, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Hobart on the city page.
Is River Forest Middle School a good school?
River Forest Middle School earns 50/100 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 River Forest Community Sch Corp?
Besides River Forest Middle School, River Forest Community Sch Corp also operates River Forest High School (565 students), Henry S Evans Elementary School (400 students), and John I Meister Elementary School (373 students). See the River Forest Community Sch Corp 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.