- Enrollment
- 1,453
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Portsmouth, VA
William E. Waters Middle
Federal NCES profile for William E. Waters Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510300001265
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
William E. Waters Middle earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Portsmouth · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.8:1
- students per teacher
- 98.9%
- free-lunch eligible
William E. Waters Middle has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, William E. Waters Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Portsmouth, VA.
School address
District: Portsmouth City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510300001265 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+28 students YoY
William E. Waters Middle grew from 534 students in 2022-23 to 562 in 2023-24 (+5.2%).
Teacher FTE added 43.0 → 45.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+28 students YoY 510300001265 · Portsmouth, VA Middle · MID · TRAD
549 enr · 12.8:1 · 98.9% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Churchland High (1,453 students)
William E. Waters Middle grew from 534 students in 2022-23 to 562 in 2023-24 (+5.2%). Teacher FTE added 43.0 → 45.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
William E. Waters Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Churchland Hig
Churchland High
1,453 students
- Manor High
Manor High
1,149 students
- I.C. Norcom Hi
I.C. Norcom High
1,009 students
- Churchland Mid
Churchland Middle
798 students
- Churchland Ele
Churchland Elementary
721 students
- This school 549
William E. Waters Middle
549 students
What this shows William E. Waters Middle reports 549 students on the CCD universe file.
How William E. Waters Middle compares
William E. Waters Middle is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.8:1 | ▼ 8% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.9% | ▲ 72% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 549 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
549
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 33% in Virginia - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.0%
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
$14,888
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 275 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
75
in-school suspensions + 181 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 46.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 65.2%
White 20.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 65.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.4, William E. Waters Middle is about as mixed as the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Portsmouth City Public Schools reports $14,888 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How William E. Waters Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churchland High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manor High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| I.C. Norcom High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Churchland Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Churchland Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to William E. Waters Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,149
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,009
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 798
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 721
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar middle schools in Portsmouth
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~549 students)
Frequently asked questions about William E. Waters Middle
How many students attend William E. Waters Middle?
William E. Waters Middle has 549 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Portsmouth, VA. CCD year-over-year: 534 (2022-23) → 562 (2023-24), up 28.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William E. Waters Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at William E. Waters Middle is 12.8:1, which is 8% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 18% 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 William E. Waters Middle?
98.9% of students at William E. Waters Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of William E. Waters Middle?
The largest demographic group at William E. Waters Middle is African American at 65.2% of enrollment, in Portsmouth, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for William E. Waters Middle?
William E. Waters Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 William E. Waters Middle rank among middle schools in Portsmouth?
By Resource Investment Index, William E. Waters Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Portsmouth, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Portsmouth on the city page.
What other schools are in Portsmouth City Public Schools?
Besides William E. Waters Middle, Portsmouth City Public Schools also operates Churchland High (1,453 students), Manor High (1,149 students), and I.C. Norcom High (1,009 students). See the Portsmouth City Public Schools district page for the complete list.