- Enrollment
- 1,196
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Albert Lea, MN
Southwest Middle
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 270297000078
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Middle earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #8 of 9
- public schools in Albert Lea · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.2:1
- students per teacher
- 50.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Middle has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle ranks #8 of 9 public schools in Albert Lea, MN.
School address
District: Albert Lea Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 270297000078 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Southwest Middle held near 455 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 30.1 → 32.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-19 students YoY 270297000078 · Albert Lea, MN Middle · SMALL · TRAD
486 enr · 16.2:1 · 50.4% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Albert Lea Senior High (1,196 students)
Southwest Middle held near 455 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount). Teacher FTE added 30.1 → 32.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Southwest Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Albert Lea Sen
Albert Lea Senior High
1,196 students
- This school
Southwest Middle
486 students
- Hawthorne Elem 400
Hawthorne Elementary
400 students
- Lakeview Eleme 400
Lakeview Elementary
400 students
- Halverson Elem 360
Halverson Elementary
360 students
- Sibley Element 275
Sibley Elementary
275 students
What this shows Southwest Middle reports 486 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Middle compares
Southwest Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.2:1 | ▲ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.4% | ▲ 18% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 486 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
486
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
50.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 64% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.2%
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
$16,107
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 486 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
62
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 53.1%
Hispanic or Latino 26.7%
Asian 12.1%
African American 3.9%
Two or More 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 53.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.9, Southwest Middle is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Albert Lea Public School District reports $16,107 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Lea Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hawthorne Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lakeview Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Halverson Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sibley Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 360
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 275
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
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 (~486 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Middle
How many students attend Southwest Middle?
Southwest Middle has 486 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Albert Lea, MN. CCD year-over-year: 474 (2022-23) → 455 (2023-24), nearly flat (-19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle is 16.2:1, which is 3% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Middle?
50.4% of students at Southwest Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Middle?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Middle is White at 53.1% of enrollment, in Albert Lea, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Middle?
Southwest Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower 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 Southwest Middle rank among public schools in Albert Lea?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle ranks #8 of 9 public schools in Albert Lea, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Albert Lea on the city page.
What other schools are in Albert Lea Public School District?
Besides Southwest Middle, Albert Lea Public School District also operates Albert Lea Senior High (1,196 students), Hawthorne Elementary (400 students), and Lakeview Elementary (400 students). See the Albert Lea Public School District district page for the complete list.