- Enrollment
- 1,361
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Gadsden, AL
Sansom Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Sansom Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010162000559
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sansom Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Gadsden · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- students per teacher
- 79.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sansom Middle School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sansom Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Gadsden, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-38 students YoY
Sansom Middle School shrank from 376 students in 2022-23 to 338 in 2023-24 (-10.1%).
Teacher FTE added 20.3 → 21.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-38 students YoY 010162000559 · Gadsden, AL Middle · SMALL · TRAD
339 enr · 16.9:1 · 79.0% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Gadsden City High School (1,361 students)
Sansom Middle School shrank from 376 students in 2022-23 to 338 in 2023-24 (-10.1%). Teacher FTE added 20.3 → 21.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Sansom Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gadsden City H
Gadsden City High School
1,361 students
- Gadsden Middle 438
Gadsden Middle School
438 students
- Adams Elementa 433
Adams Elementary School
433 students
- W E Striplin E 400
W E Striplin Elementary School
400 students
- Floyd Elementa 384
Floyd Elementary School
384 students
- This school 339
Sansom Middle School
339 students
What this shows Sansom Middle School reports 339 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sansom Middle School compares
Sansom Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▼ 5% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.0% | ▲ 34% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 339 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
339
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
79.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% 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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 42% in Alabama - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.4%
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
$13,509
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 339 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
145
in-school suspensions + 111 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 42.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 75.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 37.8%
African American 31.6%
Hispanic or Latino 25.4%
Two or More 5.0%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 37.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, Sansom Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
District finance for Gadsden City reports $13,509 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sansom Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden City High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gadsden Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Adams Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| W E Striplin Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Floyd Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sansom Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 433
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 384
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar middle schools in Gadsden
2 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 (~339 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sansom Middle School
How many students attend Sansom Middle School?
Sansom Middle School has 339 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Gadsden, AL. CCD year-over-year: 376 (2022-23) → 338 (2023-24), down 38.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sansom Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sansom Middle School is 16.9:1, which is 5% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 8% 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 Sansom Middle School?
79.0% of students at Sansom Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sansom Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Sansom Middle School is White at 37.8% of enrollment, in Gadsden, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sansom Middle School?
Sansom 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 Sansom Middle School rank among middle schools in Gadsden?
By Resource Investment Index, Sansom Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Gadsden, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Gadsden on the city page.
What other schools are in Gadsden City?
Besides Sansom Middle School, Gadsden City also operates Gadsden City High School (1,361 students), Gadsden Middle School (438 students), and Adams Elementary School (433 students). See the Gadsden City district page for the complete list.