- Enrollment
- 3,176
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Conway, SC
Black Water Middle
Federal NCES profile for Black Water Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450249001471
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Black Water Middle earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Conway · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 76.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Black Water Middle has class sizes larger than 70% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Black Water Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Conway, SC.
School address
District: Horry 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450249001471 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Black Water Middle held near 796 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 51.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 450249001471 · Conway, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
789 enr · 15.5:1 · 76.2% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Carolina Forest High (3,176 students)
Black Water Middle held near 796 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 51.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Black Water Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carolina Fores
Carolina Forest High
3,176 students
- St. James High
St. James High
1,826 students
- Conway High
Conway High
1,724 students
- Socastee High
Socastee High
1,720 students
- North Myrtle B
North Myrtle Beach High
1,673 students
- This school 789
Black Water Middle
789 students
What this shows Black Water Middle reports 789 students on the CCD universe file.
How Black Water Middle compares
Black Water 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 | 15.5:1 | ▲ 8% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.2% | ▲ 3% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 789 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
789
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 70% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.6%
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
$13,222
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 395 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
269
in-school suspensions + 213 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 34.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 61.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 42.8%
Hispanic or Latino 28.5%
African American 19.5%
Two or More 7.2%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 42.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.2, Black Water Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Horry 01 reports $13,222 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Black Water Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. James High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Conway High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Socastee High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Myrtle Beach High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Black Water Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,826
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,673
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar middle schools in Conway
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 (~789 students)
Frequently asked questions about Black Water Middle
How many students attend Black Water Middle?
Black Water Middle has 789 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Conway, SC. CCD year-over-year: 802 (2022-23) → 796 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Black Water Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Black Water Middle is 15.5:1, which is 8% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Black Water Middle?
76.2% of students at Black Water Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Black Water Middle?
The largest demographic group at Black Water Middle is White at 42.8% of enrollment, in Conway, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Black Water Middle?
Black Water Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Black Water Middle rank among middle schools in Conway?
By Resource Investment Index, Black Water Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Conway, 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 Conway on the city page.
What other schools are in Horry 01?
Besides Black Water Middle, Horry 01 also operates Carolina Forest High (3,176 students), St. James High (1,826 students), and Conway High (1,724 students). See the Horry 01 district page for the complete list.