- Enrollment
- 3,105
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lakeland, FL
Southwest Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120159001705
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #5 of 8
- middle schools in Lakeland · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.2:1
- students per teacher
- 62.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Middle School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle School ranks #5 of 8 middle schools in Lakeland, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-56 students YoY
Southwest Middle School shrank from 801 students in 2022-23 to 745 in 2023-24 (-7.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 46.0 → 42.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-56 students YoY 120159001705 · Lakeland, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
746 enr · 16.2:1 · 62.9% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Haines City Senior High School (3,105 students)
Southwest Middle School shrank from 801 students in 2022-23 to 745 in 2023-24 (-7.0%). Teacher FTE lost 46.0 → 42.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Southwest Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Haines City Se
Haines City Senior High School
3,105 students
- Davenport High
Davenport High School
2,731 students
- Winter Haven S
Winter Haven Senior High School
2,648 students
- Ridge Communit
Ridge Community High School
2,632 students
- George W. Jenk
George W. Jenkins Senior High
2,469 students
- This school 746
Southwest Middle School
746 students
What this shows Southwest Middle School reports 746 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Middle School compares
Southwest 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 | 16.2:1 | ▼ 9% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.9% | ▲ 21% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 746 | top 35% | - | - |
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.
746
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 47% in Florida - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
40.6%
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
$11,747
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 373 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
26
in-school suspensions + 260 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 42.5%
White 29.2%
African American 23.5%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, Southwest Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Polk reports $11,747 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haines City Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Davenport High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Winter Haven Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge Community High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George W. Jenkins Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher 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
- 2,731
- Students per teacher
- 32.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 2,648
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,632
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 2,469
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
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 (~746 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Middle School
How many students attend Southwest Middle School?
Southwest Middle School has 746 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lakeland, FL. CCD year-over-year: 801 (2022-23) → 745 (2023-24), down 56.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School is 16.2:1, which is 9% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 3% higher 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 Southwest Middle School?
62.9% of students at Southwest Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 42.5% of enrollment, in Lakeland, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Middle School?
Southwest Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 middle schools in Lakeland?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle School ranks #5 of 8 middle schools in Lakeland, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Lakeland on the city page.
What other schools are in Polk?
Besides Southwest Middle School, Polk also operates Haines City Senior High School (3,105 students), Davenport High School (2,731 students), and Winter Haven Senior High School (2,648 students). See the Polk district page for the complete list.