- Enrollment
- 809
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Big Stone Gap, VA
Union Middle
Federal NCES profile for Union Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 510408002050
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Union Middle earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Virginia schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Big Stone Gap · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.5:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 88.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Union Middle has class sizes smaller than 72% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Union Middle ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Big Stone Gap, VA.
School address
District: Wise County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510408002050 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Union Middle held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 45.0 → 46.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 510408002050 · Big Stone Gap, VA Elementary · MID · TRAD
561 enr · 12.5:1 · 88.9% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Union Primary (809 students)
Union Middle held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 45.0 → 46.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Union Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Union Primary
Union Primary
809 students
- Central High
Central High
676 students
- Wise Primary
Wise Primary
603 students
- Union High
Union High
564 students
- This school
Union Middle
561 students
- J.W. Adams Com
J.W. Adams Combined
523 students
What this shows Union Middle reports 561 students on the CCD universe file.
How Union Middle compares
Union Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.5:1 | ▼ 10% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.9% | ▲ 54% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 561 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
561
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
88.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 28% in Virginia - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
21.6%
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
$13,973
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
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 281 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
131
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 23.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 93.0%
Two or More 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.3%
African American 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 93.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 13.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 13.4, Union Middle is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wise County Public Schools reports $13,973 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Union Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Primary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wise Primary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Union High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| J.W. Adams Combined | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Union Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 676
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 603
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 564
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 523
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 (~561 students)
Frequently asked questions about Union Middle
How many students attend Union Middle?
Union Middle has 561 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Big Stone Gap, VA. CCD year-over-year: 583 (2022-23) → 569 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Union Middle is 12.5:1, which is 10% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 20% lower 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 Union Middle?
88.9% of students at Union Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Union Middle?
The largest demographic group at Union Middle is White at 93.0% of enrollment, in Big Stone Gap, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Union Middle?
Union Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Union Middle rank among public schools in Big Stone Gap?
By Resource Investment Index, Union Middle ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Big Stone Gap, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Wise County Public Schools?
Besides Union Middle, Wise County Public Schools also operates Union Primary (809 students), Central High (676 students), and Wise Primary (603 students). See the Wise County Public Schools district page for the complete list.