Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 20 schools in district

DISCOVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL

800 MIDJAY DRIVE, LIBERTY, MO 64068LIBERTY 53
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
653
Students
Total enrolled
$13,266
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
8% vs nat'l
13.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
15% vs nat'l
Mid-sized public school
Serves 653 students in grades 06–08 in LIBERTY, Missouri.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,266 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
13.1 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is well below the national average — smaller classes of 15.4:1.
About This School

DISCOVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL is a large middle in LIBERTY, Missouri, serving grades 06–08 with 653 students. The district invests $13,266 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 17% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at DISCOVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL

653
Total Students
13.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
17%
Free Lunch
50
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 Distribution344 male · 309 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility17%
National avg 52% · 110 students
Student Composition
72%
9%
8%
Asian5%
White72%
Hispanic / Latino9%
Black5%
Multiracial8%
Pacific Islander1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 291854003226

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,266Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,266
State avg
$15,564
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,837
Student Support$2,521
Administration$1,592
Operations$1,990
Other$1,327
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,266 spent per student, an estimated $5,877 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
35%
57%
State government
35.4%
Local (property tax)
57.5%
Federal programs
7.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 17% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • 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
CountyClay County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (816)736-7300
NCES ID: 291854003226
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in LIBERTY seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
800 MIDJAY DRIVE, LIBERTY, MO 64068
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.