Enrollment
576
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Norfolk, VA
William H. Ruffner Middle
Federal NCES profile for William H. Ruffner Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510267001134
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 62
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
William H. Ruffner Middle earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Norfolk · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 87.2%
- free-lunch eligible
William H. Ruffner Middle has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, William H. Ruffner Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Norfolk, VA.
School address
District: Norfolk City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510267001134 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
42.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
87.2%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How William H. Ruffner Middle compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at William H. Ruffner Middle
William H. Ruffner Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Norfolk, Virginia, enrolling 576 students.
At 13.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Virginia median, within a few percentage points of the 13.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 87.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 576 students, its enrollment sits close to the Virginia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Among 444 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #16, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly African American (92% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 15/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 192 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 19.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 273 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 576 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Norfolk's middle schools, it stands alongside Norview Middle (1,196 students): William H. Ruffner Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.7:1 vs 14.2:1).
Norfolk City Public Schools also operates Granby High (1,980 students) and Matthew Fontaine Maury High (1,713 students) alongside William H. Ruffner Middle.
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 William H. Ruffner Middle compares
William H. Ruffner Middle on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.2% | ▲ 51% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 576 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
576
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
87.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 49% in Virginia - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,139
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 192 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
81
in-school suspensions + 192 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 47.4 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 92.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.0%
Two or More 2.4%
White 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 92.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.8, William H. Ruffner Middle is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Norfolk City Public Schools, which includes William H. Ruffner Middle.
$15,139
Per student
+3%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.5%
State 46.2%
Federal 19.3%
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 William H. Ruffner Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granby High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Matthew Fontaine Maury High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Norview High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Norview Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blair Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to William H. Ruffner Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,980
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,585
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,196
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,141
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar middle schools in Norfolk
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Norview Middle
Standard public school
1,196 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Blair Middle
Standard public school
1,141 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Azalea Gardens Middle
Standard public school
792 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Northside Middle
Standard public school
732 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~576 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on William H. Ruffner Middle's federal record.
- Compare William H. Ruffner Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Norfolk City Public Schools'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 William H. Ruffner Middle
How many students attend William H. Ruffner Middle?
William H. Ruffner Middle has 576 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Norfolk, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William H. Ruffner Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at William H. Ruffner Middle is 13.7:1, which is 1% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 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 William H. Ruffner Middle?
87.2% of students at William H. Ruffner Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of William H. Ruffner Middle?
The largest demographic group at William H. Ruffner Middle is African American at 92.2% of enrollment, in Norfolk, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for William H. Ruffner Middle?
William H. Ruffner Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (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 William H. Ruffner Middle rank among middle schools in Norfolk?
By Resource Investment Index, William H. Ruffner Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Norfolk, 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 Norfolk on the city page.
Is William H. Ruffner Middle a good school?
William H. Ruffner Middle earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia 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 Norfolk City Public Schools?
Besides William H. Ruffner Middle, Norfolk City Public Schools also operates Granby High (1,980 students), Matthew Fontaine Maury High (1,713 students), and Norview High (1,585 students). See the Norfolk City Public Schools 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.