- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbia, SC
Hand Middle
Federal NCES profile for Hand Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450336001300
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hand Middle earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #8 of 11
- middle schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Hand Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hand Middle ranks #8 of 11 middle schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336001300 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+48 students YoY
Hand Middle grew from 652 students in 2022-23 to 700 in 2023-24 (+7.4%).
Teacher FTE added 57.0 → 59.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+48 students YoY 450336001300 · Columbia, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
755 enr · 13.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
Hand Middle grew from 652 students in 2022-23 to 700 in 2023-24 (+7.4%). Teacher FTE added 57.0 → 59.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Hand Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school
Hand Middle
755 students
What this shows Hand Middle reports 755 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hand Middle compares
Hand Middle is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 13.2:1 | ▼ 8% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 755 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
755
Bigger than 83% 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
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 37% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.3%
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
$18,992
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 252 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
63
in-school suspensions + 128 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 51.4%
White 30.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.9%
Two or More 5.8%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 51.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.6, Hand Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Hand Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hand Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Columbia
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Dent Middle
Standard public school
1,059 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
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
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 (~755 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Hand Middle
How many students attend Hand Middle?
Hand Middle has 755 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 652 (2022-23) → 700 (2023-24), up 48.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hand Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Hand Middle is 13.2:1, which is 8% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 16% 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 Hand Middle?
100.0% of students at Hand Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hand Middle?
The largest demographic group at Hand Middle is African American at 51.4% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hand Middle?
Hand Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Hand Middle rank among middle schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Hand Middle ranks #8 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 01?
Besides Hand Middle, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.