- Enrollment
- 2,216
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Brownsville, TX
Vela Middle
Federal NCES profile for Vela Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 481168000426
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 15
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vela Middle earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #5 of 10
- middle schools in Brownsville · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 60.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Vela Middle has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vela Middle ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Brownsville, TX.
School address
District: Brownsville Isd · Texas
NCES ID 481168000426 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-37 students YoY
Vela Middle shrank from 638 students in 2022-23 to 601 in 2023-24 (-5.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 48.9 → 47.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-37 students YoY 481168000426 · Brownsville, TX Middle · MID · TRAD
658 enr · 13.7:1 · 60.3% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Veterans Memorial Early College H S (2,216 students)
Vela Middle shrank from 638 students in 2022-23 to 601 in 2023-24 (-5.8%). Teacher FTE lost 48.9 → 47.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Vela Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Veterans Memor
Veterans Memorial Early College H S
2,216 students
- Rivera Early C
Rivera Early College H S
2,150 students
- Hanna Early Co
Hanna Early College H S
2,039 students
- Lopez Early Co
Lopez Early College H S
1,739 students
- Pace Early Col
Pace Early College H S
1,621 students
- This school 658
Vela Middle
658 students
What this shows Vela Middle reports 658 students on the CCD universe file.
How Vela Middle compares
Vela Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.3% | ▼ 3% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 658 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
658
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
60.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 43% in Texas - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.0%
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
$14,041
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.2 FTE
Per 206 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
83
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 98.3%
Asian 1.2%
African American 0.3%
White 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 98.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 3.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 3.4, Vela Middle is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Brownsville Isd reports $14,041 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Vela Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Early College H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rivera Early College H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hanna Early College H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lopez Early College H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pace Early College H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vela Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,150
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 2,039
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 1,739
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,621
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 (~658 students)
Frequently asked questions about Vela Middle
How many students attend Vela Middle?
Vela Middle has 658 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Brownsville, TX. CCD year-over-year: 638 (2022-23) → 601 (2023-24), down 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vela Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Vela Middle is 13.7:1, which is 7% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 13% 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 Vela Middle?
60.3% of students at Vela Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vela Middle?
The largest demographic group at Vela Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 98.3% of enrollment, in Brownsville, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vela Middle?
Vela Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Vela Middle rank among middle schools in Brownsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Vela Middle ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Brownsville, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Brownsville on the city page.
What other schools are in Brownsville Isd?
Besides Vela Middle, Brownsville Isd also operates Veterans Memorial Early College H S (2,216 students), Rivera Early College H S (2,150 students), and Hanna Early College H S (2,039 students). See the Brownsville Isd district page for the complete list.