- Enrollment
- 1,220
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Searcy, AR
Southwest Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 051221001533
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Middle School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also one of the largest schools in Arkansas.
- #3 of 4
- elementary schools in Searcy · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 37.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Middle School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle School ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Searcy, AR.
School address
District: Searcy School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 051221001533 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Southwest Middle School held near 879 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-31 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 59.1 → 56.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-31 students YoY 051221001533 · Searcy, AR Elementary · MID · TRAD
913 enr · 15.5:1 · 37.6% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Searcy High School (1,220 students)
Southwest Middle School held near 879 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-31 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 59.1 → 56.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Southwest Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Searcy High Sc
Searcy High School
1,220 students
- This school
Southwest Middle School
913 students
- Ahlf Junior Hi
Ahlf Junior High School
576 students
- Mcrae Elementa 445
Mcrae Elementary School
445 students
- Sidney Deener 421
Sidney Deener Elem. School
421 students
- Westside Eleme 398
Westside Elementary School
398 students
What this shows Southwest Middle School reports 913 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Middle School compares
Southwest Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.6% | ▼ 36% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 913 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
913
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 66% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.5%
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
$10,718
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 457 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
144
in-school suspensions + 105 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.5%
African American 11.3%
Two or More 9.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Asian 2.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 67.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.4, Southwest Middle School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Searcy School District reports $10,718 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Searcy High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ahlf Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mcrae Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sidney Deener Elem. School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westside Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 576
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 445
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 421
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 398
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~913 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Middle School
How many students attend Southwest Middle School?
Southwest Middle School has 913 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Searcy, AR. CCD year-over-year: 910 (2022-23) → 879 (2023-24), nearly flat (-31).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School is 15.5:1, which is 14% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Middle School?
37.6% of students at Southwest Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Middle School is White at 67.5% of enrollment, in Searcy, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Middle School?
Southwest Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 School rank among elementary schools in Searcy?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle School ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Searcy, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Searcy on the city page.
What other schools are in Searcy School District?
Besides Southwest Middle School, Searcy School District also operates Searcy High School (1,220 students), Ahlf Junior High School (576 students), and Mcrae Elementary School (445 students). See the Searcy School District district page for the complete list.