Enrollment
582
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbus, GA
Arnold Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Arnold Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130387001413
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Arnold Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #8 of 10
- middle schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.3:1
- students per teacher
- 96.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Arnold Middle School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Arnold Middle School ranks #8 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387001413 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.3:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
96.6%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+59% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Arnold Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Arnold Middle School
Arnold Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Columbus, Georgia, enrolling 582 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 96.6% of students eligible for free meals.
With 582 students, its enrollment sits close to the Georgia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 497 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #372, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (43%) and Hispanic or Latino (32%) (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 391 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 40.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 390 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 582 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Columbus's middle schools, it stands alongside Richards Middle School (799 students): Arnold Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.3:1 vs 17.4:1).
Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students) and Shaw High School (1,162 students) alongside Arnold Middle School.
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 Arnold Middle School compares
Arnold Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.3:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.6% | ▲ 59% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 582 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
582
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
96.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 68% in Georgia - lower ratio than 32% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
40.0%
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
$12,762
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 391 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
172
in-school suspensions + 218 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 29.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 67.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
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
African American 42.8%
Hispanic or Latino 32.3%
White 17.2%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 42.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.9, Arnold Middle School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Muscogee County, which includes Arnold Middle School.
$12,762
Per student
-8%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.8%
State 43.0%
Federal 18.2%
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 Arnold Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shaw High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbus High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hardaway High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Vocational High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Arnold Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,162
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,040
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar middle schools in Columbus
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Richards Middle School
Standard public school
799 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Veterans Memorial Middle School
Standard public school
681 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Baker Middle School
Standard public school
631 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Rothschild Leadership Academy School
Standard public school
498 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Blackmon Road Middle School
Standard public school
478 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Eddy Middle School
Standard public school
448 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~582 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Arnold Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Arnold Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Muscogee County'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 Arnold Middle School
How many students attend Arnold Middle School?
Arnold Middle School has 582 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbus, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Arnold Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Arnold Middle School is 15.3:1, which is 6% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Arnold Middle School?
96.6% of students at Arnold Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Arnold Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Arnold Middle School is African American at 42.8% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Arnold Middle School?
Arnold Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Arnold Middle School rank among middle schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Arnold Middle School ranks #8 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Columbus on the city page.
Is Arnold Middle School a good school?
Arnold Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia 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 Muscogee County?
Besides Arnold Middle School, Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students), Shaw High School (1,162 students), and Columbus High School (1,161 students). See the Muscogee County 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.