- Enrollment
- 1,980
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+104 students YoY
William H. Ruffner Middle grew from 436 students in 2022-23 to 540 in 2023-24 (+23.9%).
Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 52.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+104 students YoY 510267001134 · Norfolk, VA Middle · MID · TRAD
576 enr · 13.7:1 · 87.2% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Granby High (1,980 students)
William H. Ruffner Middle grew from 436 students in 2022-23 to 540 in 2023-24 (+23.9%). Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 52.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
William H. Ruffner Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Granby High
Granby High
1,980 students
- Matthew Fontai
Matthew Fontaine Maury High
1,713 students
- Norview High
Norview High
1,585 students
- Norview Middle
Norview Middle
1,196 students
- Blair Middle
Blair Middle
1,141 students
- This school 576
William H. Ruffner Middle
576 students
What this shows William H. Ruffner Middle reports 576 students on the CCD universe file.
How William H. Ruffner Middle compares
William H. Ruffner 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 | 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 methodology
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
$16,341
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
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.
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
District finance for Norfolk City Public Schools reports $16,341 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,713
- 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
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 (~576 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 436 (2022-23) → 540 (2023-24), up 104.
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.