Enrollment
650
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Gulfport, MS
West Harrison Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Harrison Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280177001544
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Harrison Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Mississippi schools.
- #10 of 13
- public schools in Gulfport · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 72.1%
- free-lunch eligible
West Harrison Middle School has class sizes larger than 95% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Harrison Middle School ranks #10 of 13 public schools in Gulfport, MS.
School address
District: Harrison Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280177001544 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.6:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
+32% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.1%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-10% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Harrison Middle School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Harrison Middle School
West Harrison Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Gulfport, Mississippi, enrolling 650 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.6:1 is larger than about 95% of Mississippi schools and 32% above the 13.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 72.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 650 puts it in the larger third of Mississippi schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Among 148 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Mississippi schools statewide, it ranks #108, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and African American (32%) (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 650 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 142 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 650 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 9 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Gulfport's middle schools, it stands alongside Gulfport Central Middle School (568 students): West Harrison Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.6:1 vs 12.3:1).
Harrison Co School Dist also operates Harrison Central High School (1,483 students) and Diberville Senior High Sch (1,478 students) alongside West Harrison 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 West Harrison Middle School compares
West Harrison Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 32% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.1% | ▼ 10% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 650 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
650
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 95% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.0%
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
$10,042
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 650 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 142 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 9 expulsions.
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 56.6%
African American 32.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 56.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.2, West Harrison Middle School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Harrison Co School Dist, which includes West Harrison Middle School.
$10,042
Per student
-16%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-39%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.5%
State 45.3%
Federal 18.2%
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 West Harrison Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Diberville Senior High Sch | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Harrison High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Creekbend Elementary and Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Gulfport Elementary and Middl | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Harrison Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,483
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,478
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,216
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 921
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Gulfport
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~650 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Harrison Middle School's federal record.
- Compare West Harrison Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Harrison Co School Dist'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 West Harrison Middle School
How many students attend West Harrison Middle School?
West Harrison Middle School has 650 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Gulfport, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Harrison Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Harrison Middle School is 17.6:1, which is 32% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Harrison Middle School?
72.1% of students at West Harrison Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Harrison Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Harrison Middle School is White at 56.6% of enrollment, in Gulfport, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Harrison Middle School?
West Harrison Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical 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 West Harrison Middle School rank among public schools in Gulfport?
By Resource Investment Index, West Harrison Middle School ranks #10 of 13 public schools in Gulfport, 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 Gulfport on the city page.
Is West Harrison Middle School a good school?
West Harrison Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Mississippi schools. 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 Harrison Co School Dist?
Besides West Harrison Middle School, Harrison Co School Dist also operates Harrison Central High School (1,483 students), Diberville Senior High Sch (1,478 students), and West Harrison High School (1,216 students). See the Harrison Co School Dist 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.