- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lancaster, SC
Buford Middle
Federal NCES profile for Buford Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450258000039
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buford Middle earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 56.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Buford Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buford Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Lancaster, SC.
School address
District: Lancaster 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450258000039 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Buford Middle held near 368 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.2 → 25.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 450258000039 · Lancaster, SC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
374 enr · 13.4:1 · 56.3% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Indian Land High (1,905 students)
Buford Middle held near 368 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.2 → 25.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Buford 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 374
Buford Middle
374 students
What this shows Buford Middle reports 374 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buford Middle compares
Buford 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 | 13.4:1 | ▼ 6% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.3% | ▼ 24% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 374 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
374
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 41% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.2%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 374 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
92
in-school suspensions + 87 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 24.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 47.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 78.1%
Hispanic or Latino 14.7%
Two or More 3.7%
African American 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 78.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.6, Buford Middle is less 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 Buford 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 | Higher 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 Buford 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 (~374 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buford Middle
How many students attend Buford Middle?
Buford Middle has 374 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lancaster, SC. CCD year-over-year: 373 (2022-23) → 368 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buford Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Buford Middle is 13.4:1, which is 6% 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 Buford Middle?
56.3% of students at Buford Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buford Middle?
The largest demographic group at Buford Middle is White at 78.1% of enrollment, in Lancaster, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buford Middle?
Buford Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Buford Middle rank among middle schools in Lancaster?
By Resource Investment Index, Buford Middle ranks #2 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 Buford 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.