Enrollment
732
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Summerville, SC
Alston Middle
Federal NCES profile for Alston 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 450201000403
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alston Middle earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #4 of 5
- middle schools in Summerville · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 73.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Alston Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Alston Middle ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Summerville, SC.
School address
District: Dorchester 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450201000403 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
55.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.3:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
73.4%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-1% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Alston Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Alston Middle
Alston Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Summerville, South Carolina, enrolling 732 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 73.4% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 732 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 134 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #68.
Its student body is led by White (36%) and African American (36%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 244 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dorchester 02 spends $11,173 per pupil, 23% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 531 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 732 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Summerville's middle schools, it stands alongside East Edisto Middle (1,031 students): Alston Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.3:1 vs 20.2:1).
Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students) and Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students) alongside Alston Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Alston Middle compares
Alston Middle on the metrics families compare, against South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.4% | ▼ 1% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 732 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
732
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
73.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% below 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 39% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
43.7%
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
$11,173
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 244 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
277
in-school suspensions + 254 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 37.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 72.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 35.8%
African American 35.5%
Hispanic or Latino 17.2%
Two or More 9.7%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: White at 35.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.7, Alston Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dorchester 02, which includes Alston Middle.
$11,173
Per student
-23%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.4%
State 53.8%
Federal 13.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Alston Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ashley Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Dorchester High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Hill Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beech Hill Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alston Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,599
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,344
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,079
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in Summerville
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
East Edisto Middle
Standard public school
1,031 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Charles B. Dubose Middle
Standard public school
947 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Gregg Middle
Standard public school
810 students 14:1 students per teacher
Rollings Middle School of the Arts
Standard public school
797 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~732 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Alston Middle's federal record.
- Compare Alston Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Dorchester 02's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Alston Middle
How many students attend Alston Middle?
Alston Middle has 732 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Summerville, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alston Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Alston Middle is 13.3:1, which is 7% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 15% 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 Alston Middle?
73.4% of students at Alston Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alston Middle?
The largest demographic group at Alston Middle is White at 35.8% of enrollment, in Summerville, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alston Middle?
Alston Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Alston Middle rank among middle schools in Summerville?
By Resource Investment Index, Alston Middle ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Summerville, 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 Summerville on the city page.
Is Alston Middle a good school?
Alston Middle earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Dorchester 02?
Besides Alston Middle, Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students), Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students), and Fort Dorchester High (2,344 students). See the Dorchester 02 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.