Enrollment
1,147
Ohio · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Etna, OH
Watkins Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Watkins Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 390480403098
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watkins Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Ohio schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Ohio.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Etna · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.5:1
- large classes for Ohio
- 24.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Watkins Middle School has class sizes larger than 78% of Ohio schools. Computed live against every Ohio school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watkins Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Etna, OH.
School address
District: Southwest Licking Local · Ohio
NCES ID 390480403098 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
56.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.5:1
vs 18.2:1 Ohio avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.4%
vs 31.6% Ohio avg
-23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Watkins Middle School compares with Ohio and U.S. medians
What stands out at Watkins Middle School
Watkins Middle School is a large combined-grade school in Etna, Ohio, enrolling 1,147 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Ohio schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 24.4% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Ohio, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,147 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,574 scored Ohio schools.
Among 245 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Ohio schools statewide, it ranks #188, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (71%) and Asian (13%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 574 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Southwest Licking Local spends $10,609 per pupil, 28% below the Ohio average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Etna's public schools, it stands alongside Southwest Licking Early Learning Center (168 students): Watkins Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.5:1 vs 28:1).
Southwest Licking Local also operates Watkins Memorial High School (1,397 students) and Watkins Intermediate School (801 students) alongside Watkins 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 Watkins Middle School compares
Watkins Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Ohio and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Ohio | Ohio avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.5:1 | ▲ 13% | 18.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.4% | ▼ 23% | 31.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,147 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.5:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,147
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
24.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Ohio average of 31.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.5:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 78% in Ohio - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
25.4%
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
$10,609
per pupil, district-wide
- below Ohio avg of $14,655
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 574 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
113
in-school suspensions + 112 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
White 70.8%
Asian 13.0%
Two or More 7.0%
African American 5.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 70.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.3, Watkins Middle School is more mixed than the Ohio school average of 35.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Southwest Licking Local, which includes Watkins Middle School.
$10,609
Per student
-28%
vs Ohio
Avg $14,655
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 56.0%
State 35.5%
Federal 8.5%
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 Watkins Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watkins Memorial High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Watkins Intermediate School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Etna Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kirkersville Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pataskala Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watkins Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,397
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 801
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 511
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 483
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 457
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Etna
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Ohio, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,147 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Watkins Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Watkins Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Southwest Licking Local'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 Watkins Middle School
How many students attend Watkins Middle School?
Watkins Middle School has 1,147 students enrolled. It is a public school in Etna, OH.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watkins Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watkins Middle School is 20.5:1, which is 13% higher than the Ohio average of 18.2:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Watkins Middle School?
24.4% of students at Watkins Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Ohio average of 31.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watkins Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Watkins Middle School is White at 70.8% of enrollment, in Etna, OH.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watkins Middle School?
Watkins 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 Watkins Middle School rank among public schools in Etna?
By Resource Investment Index, Watkins Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Etna, OH. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Etna on the city page.
Is Watkins Middle School a good school?
Watkins Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Ohio schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Ohio. 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 Southwest Licking Local?
Besides Watkins Middle School, Southwest Licking Local also operates Watkins Memorial High School (1,397 students), Watkins Intermediate School (801 students), and Etna Elementary (511 students). See the Southwest Licking Local 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.