- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbus, GA
Fort Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Fort Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130387001394
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #1 of 10
- middle schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 96.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Fort Middle School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Middle School ranks #1 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387001394 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Fort Middle School shrank from 511 students in 2022-23 to 484 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 28.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-27 students YoY 130387001394 · Columbus, GA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
440 enr · 13.8:1 · 96.7% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (1,405 students)
Fort Middle School shrank from 511 students in 2022-23 to 484 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 28.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Fort Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Northside High
Northside High School
1,405 students
- Shaw High Scho
Shaw High School
1,162 students
- Columbus High
Columbus High School
1,161 students
- Hardaway High
Hardaway High School
1,067 students
- Jordan Vocatio
Jordan Vocational High School
1,040 students
- This school 440
Fort Middle School
440 students
What this shows Fort Middle School reports 440 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fort Middle School compares
Fort 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 4% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.7% | ▲ 59% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 440 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
440
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.7%
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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 45% in Georgia - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
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
$13,792
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $14,615
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 220 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
256
in-school suspensions + 199 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 58.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 103.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 77.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.9%
White 7.0%
Two or More 6.6%
Asian 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 77.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.0, Fort Middle School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Muscogee County reports $13,792 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fort Middle School 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
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 (~440 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fort Middle School
How many students attend Fort Middle School?
Fort Middle School has 440 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbus, GA. CCD year-over-year: 511 (2022-23) → 484 (2023-24), down 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Middle School is 13.8:1, which is 4% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 12% 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 Fort Middle School?
96.7% of students at Fort Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Fort Middle School is African American at 77.0% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Middle School?
Fort Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Fort Middle School rank among middle schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Middle School ranks #1 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.
What other schools are in Muscogee County?
Besides Fort Middle School, 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.