Enrollment
1,092
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Waukee, IA
South Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 193051002116
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #7 of 10
- public schools in Waukee · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.2:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 20.7%
- free-lunch eligible
South Middle School has class sizes larger than 90% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle School ranks #7 of 10 public schools in Waukee, IA.
School address
District: Waukee Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193051002116 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
60.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.2:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.7%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Middle School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Middle School
South Middle School is a large middle school in Waukee, Iowa, enrolling 1,092 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.2:1 is larger than about 90% of Iowa schools and 23% above the 14.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 20.7% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Iowa, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,092 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 67 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #40.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Asian (11%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 437 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Waukee's middle schools, it stands alongside Waukee Middle School (867 students): South Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.2:1 vs 12.9:1).
Waukee Comm School District also operates Northwest High School (1,574 students) and Waukee High School (1,375 students) alongside South 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 South Middle School compares
South Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.2:1 | ▲ 23% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.7% | ▼ 43% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,092 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,092
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
20.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
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
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 90% in Iowa - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,578
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $12,854
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 437 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
51
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
White 62.3%
Asian 10.9%
African American 10.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.4%
Two or More 7.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 62.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.6, South Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waukee Comm School District, which includes South Middle School.
$11,578
Per student
-10%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 49.3%
State 44.6%
Federal 6.1%
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 South Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest High School | Larger | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Waukee High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Timberline School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waukee Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Walnut Hills Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,574
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,375
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 992
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 867
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 708
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar middle schools in Waukee
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,092 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Middle School's federal record.
- Compare South Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Waukee Comm 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 South Middle School
How many students attend South Middle School?
South Middle School has 1,092 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Waukee, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Middle School is 18.2:1, which is 23% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 16% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Middle School?
20.7% of students at South Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Middle School is White at 62.3% of enrollment, in Waukee, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Middle School?
South Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical 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 South Middle School rank among public schools in Waukee?
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle School ranks #7 of 10 public schools in Waukee, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Waukee on the city page.
Is South Middle School a good school?
South Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa. 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 Waukee Comm School District?
Besides South Middle School, Waukee Comm School District also operates Northwest High School (1,574 students), Waukee High School (1,375 students), and Timberline School (992 students). See the Waukee Comm 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.