Enrollment
395
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbus, GA
East Columbus Magnet Academy
Federal NCES profile for East Columbus Magnet Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130387002421
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East Columbus Magnet Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #2 of 10
- middle schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.3:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 96.6%
- free-lunch eligible
East Columbus Magnet Academy has class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East Columbus Magnet Academy ranks #2 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387002421 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.3:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
96.6%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+59% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How East Columbus Magnet Academy compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at East Columbus Magnet Academy
East Columbus Magnet Academy is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Columbus, Georgia, enrolling 395 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 96.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 395 puts it in the smaller third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 358 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #93.
Its student body is predominantly African American (90% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 19/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 198 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 52.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 266 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 395 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 Columbus's middle schools, it stands alongside Richards Middle School (799 students): East Columbus Magnet Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.3:1 vs 17.4:1).
Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students) and Shaw High School (1,162 students) alongside East Columbus Magnet Academy.
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 East Columbus Magnet Academy compares
East Columbus Magnet Academy on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.3:1 | ▼ 15% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.6% | ▲ 59% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 395 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
395
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
96.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 23% in Georgia - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
52.4%
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
$12,762
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
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 198 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
56
in-school suspensions + 210 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 67.3 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 89.9%
Hispanic or Latino 4.6%
Two or More 4.1%
White 1.5%
Largest group: African American at 89.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.8, East Columbus Magnet Academy is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Muscogee County, which includes East Columbus Magnet Academy.
$12,762
Per student
-8%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.8%
State 43.0%
Federal 18.2%
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 East Columbus Magnet Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shaw High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Columbus High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hardaway High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jordan Vocational High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to East Columbus Magnet Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,162
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,040
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar middle schools in Columbus
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Richards Middle School
Standard public school
799 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Veterans Memorial Middle School
Standard public school
681 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Baker Middle School
Standard public school
631 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Arnold Middle School
Standard public school
582 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Rothschild Leadership Academy School
Standard public school
498 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Blackmon Road Middle School
Standard public school
478 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~395 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on East Columbus Magnet Academy's federal record.
- Compare East Columbus Magnet Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Muscogee County'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 East Columbus Magnet Academy
How many students attend East Columbus Magnet Academy?
East Columbus Magnet Academy has 395 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbus, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Columbus Magnet Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at East Columbus Magnet Academy is 12.3:1, which is 15% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 22% 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 East Columbus Magnet Academy?
96.6% of students at East Columbus Magnet Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East Columbus Magnet Academy?
The largest demographic group at East Columbus Magnet Academy is African American at 89.9% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East Columbus Magnet Academy?
East Columbus Magnet Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 East Columbus Magnet Academy rank among middle schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, East Columbus Magnet Academy ranks #2 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, 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 Columbus on the city page.
Is East Columbus Magnet Academy a good school?
East Columbus Magnet Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools. 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 Muscogee County?
Besides East Columbus Magnet Academy, Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students), Shaw High School (1,162 students), and Columbus High School (1,161 students). See the Muscogee County 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.