Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 22 schools in district

Northeast MS

1170 Fernwood St, Bethlehem, PA 18018Bethlehem Area SD
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
725
Students
Total enrolled
$23,782
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
66% vs nat'l
12.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
22% vs nat'l
55/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
11% vs nat'l
Large public school
Serves 725 students in grades 06–08 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
66% above average funding
District spends $23,782 per pupil, 66% more than the national average of $14,347.
Above-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 55th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Northeast MS is a large middle in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, serving grades 06–08 with 725 students. The district invests $23,782 per student — 66% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Northeast MS

725
Total Students
12.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
75%
Free Lunch
61
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 Distribution413 male · 312 female
57%
43%
Male 57%Female 43%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility75%
National avg 52% · 541 students
Student Composition
24%
60%
11%
Asian2%
White24%
Hispanic / Latino60%
Black11%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 420357003462

Academic Outcomes at Northeast MS

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
55
/ 100
Above-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 55th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 93th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 18018

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$23,782Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$23,782
State avg
$97,525
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$10,464
Student Support$4,519
Administration$2,854
Operations$3,567
Other$2,378
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $23,782 spent per student, an estimated $10,536 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
25%
64%
State government
24.8%
Local (property tax)
64.1%
Federal programs
11.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $23,782/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 75% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountyNorthampton County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (610)868-8581
NCES ID: 420357003462
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Bethlehem 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
1170 Fernwood St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
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.