- Enrollment
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
Alston Middle held near 804 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 55.0 → 51.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-18 students YoY 450201000403 · Summerville, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
732 enr · 13.3:1 · 73.4% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Summerville High (3,361 students)
Alston Middle held near 804 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 55.0 → 51.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Alston Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Summerville Hi
Summerville High
3,361 students
- Ashley Ridge H
Ashley Ridge High
2,599 students
- Fort Dorcheste
Fort Dorchester High
2,344 students
- Sand Hill Elem 1,169
Sand Hill Elementary
1,169 students
- Beech Hill Ele 1,079
Beech Hill Elementary
1,079 students
- This school 732
Alston Middle
732 students
What this shows Alston Middle reports 732 students on the CCD universe file.
How Alston Middle compares
Alston 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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 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 methodology
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
$11,212
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
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.
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
District finance for Dorchester 02 reports $11,212 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
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 (~732 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 822 (2022-23) → 804 (2023-24), nearly flat (-18).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.