- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbia, SC
Dent Middle
Federal NCES profile for Dent Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450339001311
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dent Middle earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 11
- middle schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.8:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Dent Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dent Middle ranks #3 of 11 middle schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339001311 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Dent Middle held near 1,035 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 83.5 → 92.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+17 students YoY 450339001311 · Columbia, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
1,059 enr · 12.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring Valley High (2,230 students)
Dent Middle held near 1,035 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount). Teacher FTE added 83.5 → 92.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Dent Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Spring Valley
Spring Valley High
2,230 students
- Blythewood Hig
Blythewood High
2,164 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High
1,743 students
- Ridge View Hig
Ridge View High
1,631 students
- Richland North
Richland Northeast High
1,340 students
- This school
Dent Middle
1,059 students
What this shows Dent Middle reports 1,059 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dent Middle compares
Dent 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 | 12.8:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,059 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
1,059
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 31% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
33.0%
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
$14,024
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 265 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
170
in-school suspensions + 314 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 45.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 20 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 53.6%
Hispanic or Latino 17.6%
White 17.5%
Asian 6.3%
Two or More 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 53.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.5, Dent Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 02 reports $14,024 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dent Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blythewood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge View High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richland Northeast High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dent Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,164
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,743
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,631
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,340
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar middle schools in Columbia
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Irmo Middle
Standard public school
992 students 11:1 students per teacher
Crayton Middle
Standard public school
952 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Longleaf Middle
Standard public school
796 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Hand Middle
Standard public school
755 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
St. Andrews Middle
Standard public school
627 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Crossroads Intermediate
Standard public school
557 students 9.6:1 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 (~1,059 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dent Middle
How many students attend Dent Middle?
Dent Middle has 1,059 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 1,018 (2022-23) → 1,035 (2023-24), nearly flat (+17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dent Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Dent Middle is 12.8:1, which is 10% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 18% 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 Dent Middle?
100.0% of students at Dent Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dent Middle?
The largest demographic group at Dent Middle is African American at 53.6% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dent Middle?
Dent Middle 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 Dent Middle rank among middle schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Dent Middle ranks #3 of 11 middle schools in Columbia, 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 Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 02?
Besides Dent Middle, Richland 02 also operates Spring Valley High (2,230 students), Blythewood High (2,164 students), and Westwood High (1,743 students). See the Richland 02 district page for the complete list.