Enrollment
1,017
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bradenton, FL
W. D. Sugg Middle School
Federal NCES profile for W. D. Sugg Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120123001242
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W. D. Sugg Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Florida schools.
- #4 of 8
- middle schools in Bradenton · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.2:1
- large classes for Florida
- 68.4%
- free-lunch eligible
W. D. Sugg Middle School has class sizes larger than 72% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W. D. Sugg Middle School ranks #4 of 8 middle schools in Bradenton, FL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.2:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.4%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+32% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How W. D. Sugg Middle School compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at W. D. Sugg Middle School
W. D. Sugg Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Bradenton, Florida, enrolling 1,017 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Florida schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 1,017 puts it in the larger third of Florida schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Against 653 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #353.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (63%) and White (18%) (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 339 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 66.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 545 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,017 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Manatee also operates Lakewood Ranch High School (2,422 students) and Parrish Community High School (2,266 students) alongside W. D. Sugg 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 W. D. Sugg Middle School compares
W. D. Sugg Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▲ 8% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.4% | ▲ 32% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,017 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,017
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% 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
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 72% in Florida - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
66.6%
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
$10,900
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 339 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
273
in-school suspensions + 272 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 53.6 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
Hispanic or Latino 63.0%
White 17.9%
African American 14.1%
Two or More 4.2%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.9, W. D. Sugg Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Manatee, which includes W. D. Sugg Middle School.
$10,900
Per student
-2%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 58.3%
State 25.8%
Federal 15.9%
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 W. D. Sugg Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood Ranch High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parrish Community High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palmetto High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manatee School for the Arts | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Manatee High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W. D. Sugg Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,266
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,185
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,017 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on W. D. Sugg Middle School's federal record.
- Compare W. D. Sugg Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Manatee'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 W. D. Sugg Middle School
How many students attend W. D. Sugg Middle School?
W. D. Sugg Middle School has 1,017 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bradenton, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W. D. Sugg Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at W. D. Sugg Middle School is 19.2:1, which is 8% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W. D. Sugg Middle School?
68.4% of students at W. D. Sugg Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W. D. Sugg Middle School?
The largest demographic group at W. D. Sugg Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.0% of enrollment, in Bradenton, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W. D. Sugg Middle School?
W. D. Sugg Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (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 W. D. Sugg Middle School rank among middle schools in Bradenton?
By Resource Investment Index, W. D. Sugg Middle School ranks #4 of 8 middle schools in Bradenton, 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 Bradenton on the city page.
Is W. D. Sugg Middle School a good school?
W. D. Sugg Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Florida schools. 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 Manatee?
Besides W. D. Sugg Middle School, Manatee also operates Lakewood Ranch High School (2,422 students), Parrish Community High School (2,266 students), and Palmetto High School (2,185 students). See the Manatee 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.