Enrollment
535
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Huntsville, AL
Whitesburg Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Whitesburg Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010180001531
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whitesburg Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #5 of 11
- middle schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.1:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 43.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Whitesburg Middle School has class sizes larger than 74% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whitesburg Middle School ranks #5 of 11 middle schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Huntsville City · Alabama
NCES ID 010180001531 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.1:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.2%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
-27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Whitesburg Middle School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Whitesburg Middle School
Whitesburg Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in Huntsville, Alabama, enrolling 535 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.1:1 puts it in the larger third of Alabama schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 43.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 535 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 348 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #198.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (36%) and African American (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 535 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 17.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 141 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 535 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Huntsville's middle schools, it stands alongside Monrovia Middle School (988 students): Whitesburg Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.1:1 vs 19.8:1).
Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students) and Huntsville High School (1,807 students) alongside Whitesburg 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 Whitesburg Middle School compares
Whitesburg Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.1:1 | ▲ 8% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.2% | ▼ 27% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 535 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.1:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
535
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
43.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.1:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 74% in Alabama - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,033
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $12,491
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 535 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
69
in-school suspensions + 72 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 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
Hispanic or Latino 35.9%
African American 31.8%
White 24.9%
Two or More 6.0%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 35.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.4, Whitesburg Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Huntsville City, which includes Whitesburg Middle School.
$12,033
Per student
-4%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.6%
State 39.2%
Federal 17.2%
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 Whitesburg Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Huntsville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Providence Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goldsmithschiffman Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbia High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whitesburg Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,847
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar middle schools in Huntsville
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Monrovia Middle School
Standard public school
988 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
Williams Middle School
Standard public school
659 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Huntsville Junior High School
Standard public school
530 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Challenger Middle School
Standard public school
425 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Morris Middle School
Standard public school
397 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Ronald Mcnair 78
Standard public school
390 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~535 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Whitesburg Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Whitesburg Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Huntsville City'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 Whitesburg Middle School
How many students attend Whitesburg Middle School?
Whitesburg Middle School has 535 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Huntsville, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whitesburg Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whitesburg Middle School is 19.1:1, which is 8% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Whitesburg Middle School?
43.2% of students at Whitesburg Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whitesburg Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Whitesburg Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 35.9% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whitesburg Middle School?
Whitesburg Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Whitesburg Middle School rank among middle schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Whitesburg Middle School ranks #5 of 11 middle schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Huntsville on the city page.
Is Whitesburg Middle School a good school?
Whitesburg Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama 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 Huntsville City?
Besides Whitesburg Middle School, Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students), Huntsville High School (1,807 students), and Providence Elementary (1,152 students). See the Huntsville City 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.