- Enrollment
- 2,696
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Island, NE
Walnut Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Walnut Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 310001601027
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walnut Middle School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nebraska median.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Grand Island · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.7:1
- students per teacher
- 66.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Walnut Middle School has class sizes near the Nebraska median. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walnut Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Grand Island, NE.
School address
District: Grand Island Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 310001601027 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-64 students YoY
Walnut Middle School shrank from 853 students in 2022-23 to 789 in 2023-24 (-7.5%).
Teacher FTE added 61.5 → 63.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-64 students YoY 310001601027 · Grand Island, NE Middle · MID · TRAD
777 enr · 12.7:1 · 66.2% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Island Senior High School (2,696 students)
Walnut Middle School shrank from 853 students in 2022-23 to 789 in 2023-24 (-7.5%). Teacher FTE added 61.5 → 63.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Nebraska schools → · Find another →
Walnut Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Grand Island S
Grand Island Senior High School
2,696 students
- This school 777
Walnut Middle School
777 students
- Westridge Midd 694
Westridge Middle School
694 students
- Barr Middle Sc 648
Barr Middle School
648 students
- Howard Element 484
Howard Elementary School
484 students
- Starr Elementa 453
Starr Elementary School
453 students
What this shows Walnut Middle School reports 777 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walnut Middle School compares
Walnut Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.7:1 | ▼ 6% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.2% | ▲ 114% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 777 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
777
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 114% above the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 48% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.5%
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
$13,267
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $18,497
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 259 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
101
in-school suspensions + 62 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 71.3%
White 21.5%
African American 4.0%
Two or More 1.5%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 71.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.3, Walnut Middle School is more mixed than the Nebraska school average of 34.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Grand Island Public Schools reports $13,267 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walnut Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westridge Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Barr Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Howard Elementary School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Starr Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walnut Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 694
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 453
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
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 (~777 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walnut Middle School
How many students attend Walnut Middle School?
Walnut Middle School has 777 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Island, NE. CCD year-over-year: 853 (2022-23) → 789 (2023-24), down 64.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walnut Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walnut Middle School is 12.7:1, which is 6% lower than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 19% 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 Walnut Middle School?
66.2% of students at Walnut Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walnut Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Walnut Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 71.3% of enrollment, in Grand Island, NE.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walnut Middle School?
Walnut Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Walnut Middle School rank among middle schools in Grand Island?
By Resource Investment Index, Walnut Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Grand Island, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Grand Island on the city page.
What other schools are in Grand Island Public Schools?
Besides Walnut Middle School, Grand Island Public Schools also operates Grand Island Senior High School (2,696 students), Westridge Middle School (694 students), and Barr Middle School (648 students). See the Grand Island Public Schools district page for the complete list.