- Enrollment
- 5,748
- Students per teacher
- 40.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Ruskin, FL
Shields Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Shields Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120087004156
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shields Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #4 of 8
- public schools in Ruskin · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.5:1
- students per teacher
- 63.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Shields Middle School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shields Middle School ranks #4 of 8 public schools in Ruskin, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-121 students YoY
Shields Middle School shrank from 1,867 students in 2022-23 to 1,746 in 2023-24 (-6.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 86.0 → 79.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-121 students YoY 120087004156 · Ruskin, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
1,593 enr · 18.5:1 · 63.9% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Florida Connections Academy (5,748 students)
Shields Middle School shrank from 1,867 students in 2022-23 to 1,746 in 2023-24 (-6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 86.0 → 79.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Shields Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Florida Connec
Florida Connections Academy
5,748 students
- Jule F Sumner
Jule F Sumner High School
3,602 students
- Newsome High S
Newsome High School
3,157 students
- Alonso High Sc
Alonso High School
2,863 students
- Plant City Hig
Plant City High School
2,572 students
- This school 1,593
Shields Middle School
1,593 students
What this shows Shields Middle School reports 1,593 students on the CCD universe file.
How Shields Middle School compares
Shields Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.5:1 | ▲ 4% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.9% | ▲ 23% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,593 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,593
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 67% in Florida - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$10,589
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 531 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
106
in-school suspensions + 434 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 33.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 34 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 60.5%
African American 26.2%
White 8.8%
Two or More 3.2%
Asian 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 60.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.6, Shields Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Hillsborough reports $10,589 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Shields Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Connections Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jule F Sumner High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Newsome High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alonso High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plant City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shields Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,602
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 3,157
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,863
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 2,572
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
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 (~1,593 students)
Frequently asked questions about Shields Middle School
How many students attend Shields Middle School?
Shields Middle School has 1,593 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Ruskin, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,867 (2022-23) → 1,746 (2023-24), down 121.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shields Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shields Middle School is 18.5:1, which is 4% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Shields Middle School?
63.9% of students at Shields Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shields Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Shields Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 60.5% of enrollment, in Ruskin, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shields Middle School?
Shields Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Shields Middle School rank among public schools in Ruskin?
By Resource Investment Index, Shields Middle School ranks #4 of 8 public schools in Ruskin, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Ruskin on the city page.
What other schools are in Hillsborough?
Besides Shields Middle School, Hillsborough also operates Florida Connections Academy (5,748 students), Jule F Sumner High School (3,602 students), and Newsome High School (3,157 students). See the Hillsborough district page for the complete list.