- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lancaster, SC
A. R. Rucker Middle
Federal NCES profile for A. R. Rucker Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450258001260
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
A. R. Rucker Middle earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
A. R. Rucker Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, A. R. Rucker Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Lancaster, SC.
School address
District: Lancaster 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450258001260 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
A. R. Rucker Middle held near 513 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 35.1 → 35.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 450258001260 · Lancaster, SC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
477 enr · 13.6:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Indian Land High (1,905 students)
A. R. Rucker Middle held near 513 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE held 35.1 → 35.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
A. R. Rucker Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Indian Land Hi
Indian Land High
1,905 students
- Lancaster High
Lancaster High
1,390 students
- Indian Land In
Indian Land Intermediate
1,181 students
- Harrisburg Ele
Harrisburg Elementary
1,161 students
- Indian Land Mi
Indian Land Middle
1,102 students
- This school 477
A. R. Rucker Middle
477 students
What this shows A. R. Rucker Middle reports 477 students on the CCD universe file.
How A. R. Rucker Middle compares
A. R. Rucker Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 5% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 477 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
477
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 43% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
49.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,216
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 239 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
200
in-school suspensions + 192 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 41.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 82.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 112 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 50.3%
White 26.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.4%
Two or More 6.3%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 50.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.7, A. R. Rucker Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lancaster 01 reports $12,216 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How A. R. Rucker Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Land High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lancaster High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian Land Intermediate | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harrisburg Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian Land Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to A. R. Rucker Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,390
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,181
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,102
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar middle schools in Lancaster
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~477 students)
Frequently asked questions about A. R. Rucker Middle
How many students attend A. R. Rucker Middle?
A. R. Rucker Middle has 477 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lancaster, SC. CCD year-over-year: 519 (2022-23) → 513 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at A. R. Rucker Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at A. R. Rucker Middle is 13.6:1, which is 5% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 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 A. R. Rucker Middle?
100.0% of students at A. R. Rucker Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of A. R. Rucker Middle?
The largest demographic group at A. R. Rucker Middle is African American at 50.3% of enrollment, in Lancaster, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for A. R. Rucker Middle?
A. R. Rucker Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical 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 A. R. Rucker Middle rank among middle schools in Lancaster?
By Resource Investment Index, A. R. Rucker Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Lancaster, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Lancaster on the city page.
What other schools are in Lancaster 01?
Besides A. R. Rucker Middle, Lancaster 01 also operates Indian Land High (1,905 students), Lancaster High (1,390 students), and Indian Land Intermediate (1,181 students). See the Lancaster 01 district page for the complete list.