- Enrollment
- 688
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Spencer, IA
Spencer Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Spencer Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 192691001583
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Spencer Middle School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Iowa schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Spencer · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.6:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 38.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Spencer Middle School has class sizes larger than 81% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Spencer Middle School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Spencer, IA.
School address
District: Spencer Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192691001583 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Spencer Middle School held near 502 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 31.6 → 31.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 192691001583 · Spencer, IA Middle · MID · TRAD
514 enr · 16.6:1 · 38.9% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Spencer High School (688 students)
Spencer Middle School held near 502 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 31.6 → 31.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Spencer Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Spencer High S
Spencer High School
688 students
- This school
Spencer Middle School
514 students
- Lincoln Elemen
Lincoln Elementary School
442 students
- Fairview Park 249
Fairview Park Elementary
249 students
- Johnson Elemen 201
Johnson Elementary
201 students
What this shows Spencer Middle School reports 514 students on the CCD universe file.
How Spencer Middle School compares
Spencer Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.6:1 | ▲ 12% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.9% | ▲ 7% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 514 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
514
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 81% in Iowa - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.8%
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
$12,460
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $13,441
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 514 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
52
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.2%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%
Two or More 3.3%
African American 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 87.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.2, Spencer Middle School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
District finance for Spencer Comm School District reports $12,460 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Spencer Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fairview Park Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Johnson Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Spencer Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 442
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 249
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 201
- Students per teacher
- 9.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
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 (~514 students)
Frequently asked questions about Spencer Middle School
How many students attend Spencer Middle School?
Spencer Middle School has 514 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Spencer, IA. CCD year-over-year: 514 (2022-23) → 502 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spencer Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Spencer Middle School is 16.6:1, which is 12% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Spencer Middle School?
38.9% of students at Spencer Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Spencer Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Spencer Middle School is White at 87.2% of enrollment, in Spencer, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Spencer Middle School?
Spencer Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (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 Spencer Middle School rank among public schools in Spencer?
By Resource Investment Index, Spencer Middle School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Spencer, 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 Spencer on the city page.
What other schools are in Spencer Comm School District?
Besides Spencer Middle School, Spencer Comm School District also operates Spencer High School (688 students), Lincoln Elementary School (442 students), and Fairview Park Elementary (249 students). See the Spencer Comm School District district page for the complete list.