- Enrollment
- 3,579
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bentonville, AR
Ruth Barker Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Ruth Barker Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 050306001139
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ruth Barker Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Arkansas schools.
- #7 of 16
- elementary schools in Bentonville · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 23.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Ruth Barker Middle School has class sizes larger than 85% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ruth Barker Middle School ranks #7 of 16 elementary schools in Bentonville, AR.
School address
District: Bentonville School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050306001139 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Ruth Barker Middle School held near 491 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 30.6 → 25.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 050306001139 · Bentonville, AR Elementary · MID · TRAD
530 enr · 17.7:1 · 23.3% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Bentonville High School (3,579 students)
Ruth Barker Middle School held near 491 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 30.6 → 25.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Ruth Barker Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Bentonville Hi
Bentonville High School
3,579 students
- Bentonville We
Bentonville West High School
2,661 students
- Grimsley Junio 846
Grimsley Junior High School
846 students
- Centerton Gamb 725
Centerton Gamble Elementary
725 students
- Lincoln Junior 723
Lincoln Junior High School
723 students
- This school 530
Ruth Barker Middle School
530 students
What this shows Ruth Barker Middle School reports 530 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ruth Barker Middle School compares
Ruth Barker Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.7:1 | ▲ 30% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.3% | ▼ 61% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 530 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
530
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 85% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.8%
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
$12,377
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 353 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 63.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Asian 6.8%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 4.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.5%
Largest group: White at 63.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.2, Ruth Barker Middle School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bentonville School District reports $12,377 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ruth Barker Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentonville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bentonville West High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grimsley Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Centerton Gamble Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ruth Barker Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,661
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 846
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 725
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 723
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar elementary schools in Bentonville
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~530 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ruth Barker Middle School
How many students attend Ruth Barker Middle School?
Ruth Barker Middle School has 530 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bentonville, AR. CCD year-over-year: 494 (2022-23) → 491 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ruth Barker Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ruth Barker Middle School is 17.7:1, which is 30% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ruth Barker Middle School?
23.3% of students at Ruth Barker Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ruth Barker Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Ruth Barker Middle School is White at 63.4% of enrollment, in Bentonville, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ruth Barker Middle School?
Ruth Barker Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical 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 Ruth Barker Middle School rank among elementary schools in Bentonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Ruth Barker Middle School ranks #7 of 16 elementary schools in Bentonville, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Bentonville on the city page.
What other schools are in Bentonville School District?
Besides Ruth Barker Middle School, Bentonville School District also operates Bentonville High School (3,579 students), Bentonville West High School (2,661 students), and Grimsley Junior High School (846 students). See the Bentonville School District district page for the complete list.