Enrollment
749
New York · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Utica, NY
Senator James H Donovan Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Senator James H Donovan Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 362937003962
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Senator James H Donovan Middle School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New York median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York schools.
- #5 of 15
- public schools in Utica · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.7:1
- students per teacher
- 82.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Senator James H Donovan Middle School has class sizes near the New York median. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Senator James H Donovan Middle School ranks #5 of 15 public schools in Utica, NY.
School address
District: Utica City School District · New York
NCES ID 362937003962 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
64.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.7:1
vs 11.8:1 New York avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
82.6%
vs 56.2% New York avg
+47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Senator James H Donovan Middle School compares with New York and U.S. medians
What stands out at Senator James H Donovan Middle School
Senator James H Donovan Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Utica, New York, enrolling 749 students.
At 11.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the New York median, within a few percentage points of the 11.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 82.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 749 puts it in the larger third of New York schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 4,801 scored New York schools.
Against 637 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #295.
Its student body is led by African American (26%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 78/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 375 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 55.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Utica City School District spends $18,903 per pupil, 28% below the New York average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 156 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 749 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 28 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Utica City School District also operates Thomas R Proctor High School (2,820 students) and John F Kennedy Middle School (687 students) alongside Senator James H Donovan 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 Senator James H Donovan Middle School compares
Senator James H Donovan Middle School on the metrics families compare, against New York and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New York | New York avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.7:1 | ▼ 1% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 82.6% | ▲ 47% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 749 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
749
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
82.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% above the New York average of 56.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 55% in New York - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
55.0%
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
$18,903
per pupil, district-wide
- below New York avg of $26,410
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 375 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 113 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 28 expulsions.
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
African American 25.9%
Hispanic or Latino 24.3%
Asian 24.0%
White 17.9%
Two or More 7.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 25.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.9, Senator James H Donovan Middle School is more mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Utica City School District, which includes Senator James H Donovan Middle School.
$18,903
Per student
-28%
vs New York
Avg $26,410
+14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 14.1%
State 75.3%
Federal 10.6%
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 Senator James H Donovan Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas R Proctor High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John F Kennedy Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| General Herkimer Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Christopher Columbus Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Watson Williams Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Senator James H Donovan Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,820
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 590
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New York, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~749 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Senator James H Donovan Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Senator James H Donovan Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Utica City School District'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 Senator James H Donovan Middle School
How many students attend Senator James H Donovan Middle School?
Senator James H Donovan Middle School has 749 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Utica, NY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Senator James H Donovan Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Senator James H Donovan Middle School is 11.7:1, which is 1% lower than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 25% 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 Senator James H Donovan Middle School?
82.6% of students at Senator James H Donovan Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Senator James H Donovan Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Senator James H Donovan Middle School is African American at 25.9% of enrollment, in Utica, NY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Senator James H Donovan Middle School?
Senator James H Donovan Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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 Senator James H Donovan Middle School rank among public schools in Utica?
By Resource Investment Index, Senator James H Donovan Middle School ranks #5 of 15 public schools in Utica, NY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Utica on the city page.
Is Senator James H Donovan Middle School a good school?
Senator James H Donovan Middle School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New York median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York 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 Utica City School District?
Besides Senator James H Donovan Middle School, Utica City School District also operates Thomas R Proctor High School (2,820 students), John F Kennedy Middle School (687 students), and General Herkimer Elementary School (634 students). See the Utica City School District 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.