Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 15 schools in district

R.K. Smith Middle School

281 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway, Luling, LA 70070St. Charles Parish
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
342
Students
Total enrolled
$25,354
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
77% vs nat'l
12.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
17% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
Mid-sized public school
Serves 342 students in grades 06–08 in Luling, Louisiana.
77% above average funding
District spends $25,354 per pupil, 77% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

R.K. Smith Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Luling, Louisiana, serving grades 06–08 with 342 students. The district invests $25,354 per student — 77% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 67% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at R.K. Smith Middle School

342
Total Students
12.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
67%
Free Lunch
27
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution160 male · 182 female
47%
53%
Male 47%Female 53%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility67%
National avg 52% · 228 students
Student Composition
22%
10%
66%
White22%
Hispanic / Latino10%
Black66%
Multiracial2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 220144001142

Academic Outcomes at R.K. Smith Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 61th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 70070

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$25,354Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$25,354
State avg
$18,624
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$11,156
Student Support$4,817
Administration$3,043
Operations$3,803
Other$2,535
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $25,354 spent per student, an estimated $11,232 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
79%
State government
13.5%
Local (property tax)
79.2%
Federal programs
7.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $25,354/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountySt. Charles Parish
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (985)331-1018
NCES ID: 220144001142
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Luling seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
281 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway, Luling, LA 70070
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.