- Enrollment
- 1,588
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Opelika, AL
Sanford Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Sanford Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010207000793
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sanford Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #5 of 7
- elementary schools in Opelika · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.7:1
- students per teacher
- 67.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Sanford Middle School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sanford Middle School ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Opelika, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Sanford Middle School held near 545 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.7 → 33.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 010207000793 · Opelika, AL Elementary · MID · TRAD
533 enr · 16.7:1 · 67.2% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Smiths Station High School (1,588 students)
Sanford Middle School held near 545 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.7 → 33.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Sanford Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Smiths Station
Smiths Station High School
1,588 students
- Smiths Station
Smiths Station Junior High School
910 students
- West Smiths St
West Smiths Station Elementary School
811 students
- East Smiths St
East Smiths Station Elementary School
785 students
- Beauregard Ele
Beauregard Elementary School
783 students
- This school 533
Sanford Middle School
533 students
What this shows Sanford Middle School reports 533 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sanford Middle School compares
Sanford Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.7:1 | ▼ 6% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.2% | ▲ 14% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 533 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
533
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
67.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 39% in Alabama - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.3%
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
$12,566
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
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 533 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
137
in-school suspensions + 154 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 25.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 54.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 59.5%
African American 20.5%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
Two or More 9.6%
Largest group: White at 59.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.4, Sanford Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lee County reports $12,566 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sanford Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smiths Station High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Smiths Station Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Smiths Station Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Smiths Station Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Beauregard Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sanford Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 910
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 785
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 783
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Opelika
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Southview Primary School
Standard public school
480 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Northside School
Standard public school
464 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Jeter Primary School
Standard public school
435 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Carver Primary School
Standard public school
414 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Morris Avenue Intermediate School
Standard public school
397 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
West Forest Intermediate School
Standard public school
393 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~533 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sanford Middle School
How many students attend Sanford Middle School?
Sanford Middle School has 533 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Opelika, AL. CCD year-over-year: 545 (2022-23) → 545 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sanford Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sanford Middle School is 16.7:1, which is 6% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 6% higher 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 Sanford Middle School?
67.2% of students at Sanford Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sanford Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Sanford Middle School is White at 59.5% of enrollment, in Opelika, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sanford Middle School?
Sanford Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Sanford Middle School rank among elementary schools in Opelika?
By Resource Investment Index, Sanford Middle School ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Opelika, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Opelika on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee County?
Besides Sanford Middle School, Lee County also operates Smiths Station High School (1,588 students), Smiths Station Junior High School (910 students), and West Smiths Station Elementary School (811 students). See the Lee County district page for the complete list.