- Enrollment
- 473
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Clarksdale, MS
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy
Federal NCES profile for W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280105000119
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median.
- #3 of 10
- public schools in Clarksdale · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy ranks #3 of 10 public schools in Clarksdale, MS.
School address
District: Clarksdale Municipal School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280105000119 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy held near 281 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 20.9 → 20.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 280105000119 · Clarksdale, MS Middle · SMALL · TRAD
269 enr · 13.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Clarksdale High School (473 students)
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy held near 281 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 20.9 → 20.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Clarksdale Hig
Clarksdale High School
473 students
- Geo H Oliver V
Geo H Oliver Visual/Perf. Arts
299 students
- This school
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy
269 students
- Kirkpatrick H
Kirkpatrick Health /Wellness
266 students
- Booker T Washi
Booker T Washington Intern. Studies
247 students
- Heidelberg Sch
Heidelberg School Math & Science
198 students
What this shows W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy reports 269 students on the CCD universe file.
How W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy compares
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▲ 1% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 269 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
269
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 53% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
85.9%
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
$14,773
per pupil, district-wide
- above Mississippi avg of $13,683
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 269 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 133 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 60.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 55.8%
Two or More 41.6%
White 1.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1.1%
Largest group: African American at 55.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.5, W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Clarksdale Municipal School Dist reports $14,773 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksdale High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Geo H Oliver Visual/Perf. Arts | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kirkpatrick Health /Wellness | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Booker T Washington Intern. Studies | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heidelberg School Math & Science | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 299
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 266
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 247
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 198
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~269 students)
Frequently asked questions about W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy
How many students attend W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy?
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy has 269 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Clarksdale, MS. CCD year-over-year: 283 (2022-23) → 281 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy is 13.4:1, which is 1% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy?
100.0% of students at W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy?
The largest demographic group at W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy is African American at 55.8% of enrollment, in Clarksdale, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy?
W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy rank among public schools in Clarksdale?
By Resource Investment Index, W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy ranks #3 of 10 public schools in Clarksdale, 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 Clarksdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Clarksdale Municipal School Dist?
Besides W.a. Higgins Middle School Academy, Clarksdale Municipal School Dist also operates Clarksdale High School (473 students), Geo H Oliver Visual/Perf. Arts (299 students), and Kirkpatrick Health /Wellness (266 students). See the Clarksdale Municipal School Dist district page for the complete list.