Enrollment
665
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Louisville, KY
Western Middle School for the Arts
Federal NCES profile for Western Middle School for the Arts, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210299000785
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Middle School for the Arts earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #7 of 21
- middle schools in Louisville · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 56.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Middle School for the Arts has class sizes larger than 85% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Middle School for the Arts ranks #7 of 21 middle schools in Louisville, KY.
School address
District: Jefferson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210299000785 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
56.5%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
-5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Western Middle School for the Arts compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Western Middle School for the Arts
Western Middle School for the Arts is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Louisville, Kentucky, enrolling 665 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18:1 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 56.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 665 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Against 478 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #182.
Its student body is led by African American (50%) and White (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 222 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Jefferson County spends $17,376 per pupil, 32% above the Kentucky average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 22.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 158 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 665 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Louisville's middle schools, it stands alongside Stuart Academy (1,166 students): Western Middle School for the Arts is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18:1 vs 18.8:1).
Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students) and Dupont Manual High (1,899 students) alongside Western Middle School for the Arts.
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 Western Middle School for the Arts compares
Western Middle School for the Arts on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 18% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.5% | ▼ 5% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 665 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
665
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
56.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 85% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
30.7%
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
$17,376
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $13,211
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 222 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
80
in-school suspensions + 78 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.8 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
African American 49.6%
White 34.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.9%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 49.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.6, Western Middle School for the Arts is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Jefferson County, which includes Western Middle School for the Arts.
$17,376
Per student
+32%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
+5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.8%
State 30.9%
Federal 22.3%
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 Western Middle School for the Arts Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dupont Manual High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Marion C. Moore School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eastern High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pleasure Ridge Park High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Middle School for the Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,148
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,892
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,790
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,777
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar middle schools in Louisville
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Stuart Academy
Standard public school
1,166 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Noe Middle
Standard public school
1,155 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Ramsey Middle
Standard public school
1,151 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Westport Middle
Standard public school
988 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Thomas Jefferson Middle
Standard public school
943 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Lassiter Middle
Standard public school
921 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~665 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Western Middle School for the Arts's federal record.
- Compare Western Middle School for the Arts against another school. Compare schools
- Jefferson County'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 Western Middle School for the Arts
How many students attend Western Middle School for the Arts?
Western Middle School for the Arts has 665 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Louisville, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Middle School for the Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Middle School for the Arts is 18:1, which is 18% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Western Middle School for the Arts?
56.5% of students at Western Middle School for the Arts are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Middle School for the Arts?
The largest demographic group at Western Middle School for the Arts is African American at 49.6% of enrollment, in Louisville, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Middle School for the Arts?
Western Middle School for the Arts has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Western Middle School for the Arts rank among middle schools in Louisville?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Middle School for the Arts ranks #7 of 21 middle schools in Louisville, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Louisville on the city page.
Is Western Middle School for the Arts a good school?
Western Middle School for the Arts earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky 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 Jefferson County?
Besides Western Middle School for the Arts, Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students), Dupont Manual High (1,899 students), and Marion C. Moore School (1,892 students). See the Jefferson County 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.