Enrollment
1,059
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
83.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.8:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Dent Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Dent Middle
Dent Middle is a high-poverty, large middle school in Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 1,059 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 1,059 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 118 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #23.
Its student body is led by African American (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (18%) (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 265 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 484 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,059 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 20 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Columbia's middle schools, it stands alongside Irmo Middle (992 students): Dent Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (12.8:1 vs 11:1).
Richland 02 also operates Spring Valley High (2,230 students) and Blythewood High (2,164 students) alongside Dent Middle.
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 Dent Middle compares
Dent Middle on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$13,517
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints 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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Richland 02, which includes Dent Middle.
$13,517
Per student
-7%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.0%
State 47.7%
Federal 10.3%
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 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
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- 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
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,059 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Dent Middle's federal record.
- Compare Dent Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Richland 02'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 Dent Middle
How many students attend Dent Middle?
Dent Middle has 1,059 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, SC.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Dent Middle a good school?
Dent Middle earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina 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 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.
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.