Enrollment
1,070
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tupelo, MS
Tupelo Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Tupelo Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280432000293
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Tupelo Middle School earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median.
- #12 of 12
- public schools in Tupelo · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.5:1
- students per teacher
- 62.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Tupelo Middle School has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Tupelo Middle School ranks #12 of 12 public schools in Tupelo, MS.
School address
District: Tupelo Public School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280432000293 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
79.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.4%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Tupelo Middle School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Tupelo Middle School
Tupelo Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Tupelo, Mississippi, enrolling 1,070 students.
At 13.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Mississippi median, within a few percentage points of the 13.3:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 62.4% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Mississippi, bigger than 94% of state schools at 1,070 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 99% of the 877 Mississippi schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 99 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Mississippi schools statewide, it ranks #99, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (53%) and White (32%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 535 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 466 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,070 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Tupelo's middle schools, it stands alongside Milam Elementary School (456 students): Tupelo Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.5:1 vs 13:1).
Tupelo Public School Dist also operates Tupelo High School (2,123 students) and Lawhon Elementary School (575 students) alongside Tupelo Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Tupelo Middle School compares
Tupelo Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▲ 2% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.4% | ▼ 22% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,070 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,070
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 55% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
42.8%
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
$11,682
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
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 535 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
188
in-school suspensions + 278 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 43.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 52.8%
White 32.1%
Hispanic or Latino 9.3%
Asian 3.2%
Two or More 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 52.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.8, Tupelo Middle School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tupelo Public School Dist, which includes Tupelo Middle School.
$11,682
Per student
-3%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.5%
State 38.9%
Federal 18.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Tupelo Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tupelo High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawhon Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Milam Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Joyner Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkway Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Tupelo Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,123
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 575
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 456
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 444
- Students per teacher
- 10.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 418
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Tupelo
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,070 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Tupelo Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Tupelo Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Tupelo Public School Dist's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Tupelo Middle School
How many students attend Tupelo Middle School?
Tupelo Middle School has 1,070 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tupelo, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Tupelo Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Tupelo Middle School is 13.5:1, which is 2% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Tupelo Middle School?
62.4% of students at Tupelo Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Tupelo Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Tupelo Middle School is African American at 52.8% of enrollment, in Tupelo, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Tupelo Middle School?
Tupelo Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Tupelo Middle School rank among public schools in Tupelo?
By Resource Investment Index, Tupelo Middle School ranks #12 of 12 public schools in Tupelo, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Tupelo on the city page.
Is Tupelo Middle School a good school?
Tupelo Middle School earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Tupelo Public School Dist?
Besides Tupelo Middle School, Tupelo Public School Dist also operates Tupelo High School (2,123 students), Lawhon Elementary School (575 students), and Milam Elementary School (456 students). See the Tupelo Public School Dist district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.