Enrollment
367
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · West Liberty, IA
West Liberty Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Liberty Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 193099001804
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 63
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Liberty Middle School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in West Liberty · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 43.9%
- free-lunch eligible
West Liberty Middle School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Liberty Middle School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in West Liberty, IA.
School address
District: West Liberty Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193099001804 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.9%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Liberty Middle School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Liberty Middle School
West Liberty Middle School is a mid-sized elementary school in West Liberty, Iowa, enrolling 367 students.
At 13.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Iowa median, within a few percentage points of the 14.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 43.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 367 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 361 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #79.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (59%) and White (37%) (diversity index 51/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 184 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among West Liberty's elementary schools, it stands alongside West Liberty Elementary School (438 students): West Liberty Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.6:1 vs 16.8:1).
West Liberty Comm School District also operates West Liberty Elementary School (438 students) and West Liberty High School (397 students) alongside West Liberty 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 Liberty Middle School compares
West Liberty Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 8% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.9% | ▲ 21% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 367 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
367
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
43.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 44% in Iowa - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.2%
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
$11,339
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $12,854
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 184 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
Hispanic or Latino 59.1%
White 37.3%
Two or More 1.6%
Asian 1.1%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.1, West Liberty Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Liberty Comm School District, which includes West Liberty Middle School.
$11,339
Per student
-12%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.8%
State 59.6%
Federal 11.6%
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 Liberty Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Liberty Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Liberty High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Early Childhood Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Liberty Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 397
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 89
- Students per teacher
- 8.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in West Liberty
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~367 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Liberty Middle School's federal record.
- Compare West Liberty Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- West Liberty Comm School District'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 Liberty Middle School
How many students attend West Liberty Middle School?
West Liberty Middle School has 367 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in West Liberty, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Liberty Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Liberty Middle School is 13.6:1, which is 8% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 13% 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 West Liberty Middle School?
43.9% of students at West Liberty Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Liberty Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Liberty Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 59.1% of enrollment, in West Liberty, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Liberty Middle School?
West Liberty Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 Liberty Middle School rank among public schools in West Liberty?
By Resource Investment Index, West Liberty Middle School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in West Liberty, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in West Liberty on the city page.
Is West Liberty Middle School a good school?
West Liberty Middle School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. 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 West Liberty Comm School District?
Besides West Liberty Middle School, West Liberty Comm School District also operates West Liberty Elementary School (438 students), West Liberty High School (397 students), and Early Childhood Center (89 students). See the West Liberty Comm School District 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.