- Enrollment
- 2,234
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Decatur, GA
Columbia Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Columbia Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130174002480
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 62
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbia Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Georgia schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #3 of 8
- middle schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.9:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Columbia Middle School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Middle School ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Decatur, GA.
School address
District: Dekalb County · Georgia
NCES ID 130174002480 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-40 students YoY
Columbia Middle School shrank from 604 students in 2022-23 to 564 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 48.0 → 46.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-40 students YoY 130174002480 · Decatur, GA Middle · MID · TRAD
571 enr · 11.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Lakeside High School (2,234 students)
Columbia Middle School shrank from 604 students in 2022-23 to 564 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE lost 48.0 → 46.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Columbia Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lakeside High
Lakeside High School
2,234 students
- Dunwoody High
Dunwoody High School
2,012 students
- Chamblee High
Chamblee High School
1,867 students
- Cross Keys Hig
Cross Keys High School
1,748 students
- Sequoyah Middl
Sequoyah Middle School
1,713 students
- This school 571
Columbia Middle School
571 students
What this shows Columbia Middle School reports 571 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbia Middle School compares
Columbia Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 17% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 65% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 571 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
571
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 18% in Georgia - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
78.6%
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
$15,368
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $14,615
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 190 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
45
in-school suspensions + 146 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 33.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 89.8%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
Two or More 2.3%
White 1.2%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 89.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 19.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 19.0, Columbia Middle School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dekalb County reports $15,368 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbia Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dunwoody High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chamblee High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cross Keys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sequoyah Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbia Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,867
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,748
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Decatur
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Beacon Hill Middle School
Standard public school
1,285 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Druid Hills Middle School
Standard public school
985 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Mcnair Middle School
Standard public school
701 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Cedar Grove Middle School
Standard public school
685 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Mary Mcleod Bethune Middle School
Standard public school
655 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Miller Grove Middle School
Standard public school
625 students 13.3:1 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 (~571 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbia Middle School
How many students attend Columbia Middle School?
Columbia Middle School has 571 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Decatur, GA. CCD year-over-year: 604 (2022-23) → 564 (2023-24), down 40.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Middle School is 11.9:1, which is 17% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 24% 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 Columbia Middle School?
100.0% of students at Columbia Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbia Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Columbia Middle School is African American at 89.8% of enrollment, in Decatur, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbia Middle School?
Columbia Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Columbia Middle School rank among middle schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Middle School ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Decatur, 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 Decatur on the city page.
What other schools are in Dekalb County?
Besides Columbia Middle School, Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students), Dunwoody High School (2,012 students), and Chamblee High School (1,867 students). See the Dekalb County district page for the complete list.