- Enrollment
- 1,094
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Reading, MA
Walter S Parker Middle
Federal NCES profile for Walter S Parker Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 250999001612
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walter S Parker Middle earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Massachusetts schools.
- #5 of 9
- public schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.6:1
- small classes for Massachusetts
- 467
- students enrolled
Walter S Parker Middle has class sizes smaller than 71% of Massachusetts schools. Computed live against every Massachusetts school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter S Parker Middle ranks #5 of 9 public schools in Reading, MA.
School address
District: Reading · Massachusetts
NCES ID 250999001612 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Walter S Parker Middle held near 451 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 44.2 → 37.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 250999001612 · Reading, MA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
467 enr · 10.6:1 · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Reading Memorial High (1,094 students)
Walter S Parker Middle held near 451 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 44.2 → 37.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Massachusetts schools → · Find another →
Walter S Parker Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Reading Memori
Reading Memorial High
1,094 students
- This school
Walter S Parker Middle
467 students
- J Warren Killa 406
J Warren Killam
406 students
- Arthur W Cooli 405
Arthur W Coolidge Middle
405 students
- Joshua Eaton 388
Joshua Eaton
388 students
- Alice M Barrow 365
Alice M Barrows
365 students
What this shows Walter S Parker Middle reports 467 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter S Parker Middle compares
Walter S Parker Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Massachusetts and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Massachusetts | Massachusetts avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 12.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 467 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.6:1
Leaner classes than 85% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
467
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
10.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 29% in Massachusetts - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
15.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$19,869
per pupil, district-wide
- below Massachusetts avg of $23,695
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.3%
Asian 6.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%
African American 5.1%
Two or More 3.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 80.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.5, Walter S Parker Middle is less mixed than the Massachusetts school average of 47.3.
Programs
District finance for Reading reports $19,869 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walter S Parker Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Memorial High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| J Warren Killam | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Arthur W Coolidge Middle | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Joshua Eaton | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alice M Barrows | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walter S Parker Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 406
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 405
- Students per teacher
- 10.1:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 388
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 365
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar middle schools in Reading
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~467 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walter S Parker Middle
How many students attend Walter S Parker Middle?
Walter S Parker Middle has 467 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Reading, MA. CCD year-over-year: 464 (2022-23) → 451 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter S Parker Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter S Parker Middle is 10.6:1, which is 14% lower than the Massachusetts average of 12.3:1 and 32% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter S Parker Middle?
The largest demographic group at Walter S Parker Middle is White at 80.3% of enrollment, in Reading, MA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter S Parker Middle?
Walter S Parker Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Walter S Parker Middle rank among public schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter S Parker Middle ranks #5 of 9 public schools in Reading, MA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Reading on the city page.
What other schools are in Reading?
Besides Walter S Parker Middle, Reading also operates Reading Memorial High (1,094 students), J Warren Killam (406 students), and Arthur W Coolidge Middle (405 students). See the Reading district page for the complete list.