- Enrollment
- 2,435
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Wichita, KS
Wells Alternative Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Wells Alternative Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 201299000321
👥 S:T ratio 84
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 93
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wells Alternative Middle School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of Kansas schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Kansas.
- #1 of 17
- middle schools in Wichita · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 4:1
- small classes for Kansas
- 89.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Wells Alternative Middle School has class sizes smaller than 99% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wells Alternative Middle School ranks #1 of 17 middle schools in Wichita, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+11 students YoY
Wells Alternative Middle School grew from 29 students in 2022-23 to 40 in 2023-24 (+37.9%).
Teacher FTE held 9.0 → 9.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+11 students YoY 201299000321 · Wichita, KS Middle · SMALL · TRAD
36 enr · 4:1 · 89.7% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: East High (2,435 students)
Wells Alternative Middle School grew from 29 students in 2022-23 to 40 in 2023-24 (+37.9%). Teacher FTE held 9.0 → 9.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Wells Alternative Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East High
East High
2,435 students
- Southeast High
Southeast High
2,066 students
- North High
North High
2,041 students
- South High
South High
1,662 students
- Heights High
Heights High
1,505 students
- This school 36
Wells Alternative Middle School
36 students
What this shows Wells Alternative Middle School reports 36 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wells Alternative Middle School compares
Wells Alternative Middle School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 4:1 | ▼ 71% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 89.7% | ▲ 110% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 36 | top 95% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
4:1
Leaner classes than 99% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
36
Bigger than 4% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
89.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 110% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
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
4:1
students per teacher
- 71% below state mean
Top 1% in Kansas - lower ratio than 99% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
91.7%
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
$15,549
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 36 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 35 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 113.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 36.1%
African American 27.8%
Hispanic or Latino 16.7%
Two or More 16.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.8%
Largest group: White at 36.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.6, Wells Alternative Middle School is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
District finance for Wichita reports $15,549 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wells Alternative Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southeast High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heights High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wells Alternative Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,066
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,041
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,662
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,505
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Wichita
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Truesdell Middle School
Standard public school
924 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Curtis Middle School
Standard public school
846 students 13:1 students per teacher
Wilbur Middle School
Standard public school
822 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Pleasant Valley Middle School
Standard public school
760 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Robinson Middle School
Standard public school
682 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Mead Middle School
Standard public school
678 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
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 (~36 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wells Alternative Middle School
How many students attend Wells Alternative Middle School?
Wells Alternative Middle School has 36 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Wichita, KS. CCD year-over-year: 29 (2022-23) → 40 (2023-24), up 11.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wells Alternative Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wells Alternative Middle School is 4:1, which is 71% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 75% 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 Wells Alternative Middle School?
89.7% of students at Wells Alternative Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wells Alternative Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Wells Alternative Middle School is White at 36.1% of enrollment, in Wichita, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wells Alternative Middle School?
Wells Alternative Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Wells Alternative Middle School rank among middle schools in Wichita?
By Resource Investment Index, Wells Alternative Middle School ranks #1 of 17 middle schools in Wichita, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Wichita on the city page.
What other schools are in Wichita?
Besides Wells Alternative Middle School, Wichita also operates East High (2,435 students), Southeast High (2,066 students), and North High (2,041 students). See the Wichita district page for the complete list.