- Enrollment
- 1,567
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Eau Claire, WI
South Middle
Federal NCES profile for South Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 550405002297
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Middle earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Wisconsin schools.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Eau Claire · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.5:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 29.1%
- free-lunch eligible
South Middle has class sizes smaller than 85% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Eau Claire, WI.
School address
District: Eau Claire Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550405002297 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
South Middle held near 792 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 76.8 → 88.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 550405002297 · Eau Claire, WI Middle · MID · TRAD
797 enr · 10.5:1 · 29.1% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: North High (1,567 students)
South Middle held near 792 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 76.8 → 88.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
South Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- North High
North High
1,567 students
- Memorial High
Memorial High
1,558 students
- Delong Middle
Delong Middle
893 students
- This school
South Middle
797 students
- Northstar Midd 529
Northstar Middle
529 students
- Robbins Elemen 522
Robbins Elementary
522 students
What this shows South Middle reports 797 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Middle compares
South Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.5:1 | ▼ 27% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.1% | ▼ 24% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 797 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.5:1
Leaner classes than 86% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
797
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10.5:1
students per teacher
- 27% below state mean
Top 15% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.7%
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
$14,336
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 319 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
Asian 7.8%
Two or More 6.9%
African American 3.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 71.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.4, South Middle is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Eau Claire Area School District reports $14,336 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Memorial High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Delong Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northstar Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Robbins Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,558
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 893
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 529
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 522
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Eau Claire
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 (~797 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Middle
How many students attend South Middle?
South Middle has 797 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Eau Claire, WI. CCD year-over-year: 791 (2022-23) → 792 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at South Middle is 10.5:1, which is 27% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 33% 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 South Middle?
29.1% of students at South Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Middle?
The largest demographic group at South Middle is White at 71.7% of enrollment, in Eau Claire, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Middle?
South Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 South Middle rank among middle schools in Eau Claire?
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Eau Claire, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Eau Claire on the city page.
What other schools are in Eau Claire Area School District?
Besides South Middle, Eau Claire Area School District also operates North High (1,567 students), Memorial High (1,558 students), and Delong Middle (893 students). See the Eau Claire Area School District district page for the complete list.