Enrollment
973
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Macon, GA
Howard Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Howard Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130042003290
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 11
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howard Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Georgia schools.
- #4 of 7
- middle schools in Macon · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Howard Middle School has class sizes larger than 76% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Middle School ranks #4 of 7 middle schools in Macon, GA.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
61.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+65% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Howard Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Howard Middle School
Howard Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Macon, Georgia, enrolling 973 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 100.0% of students qualify for free meals, 65% above the Georgia average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 973 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 262 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #102.
Its student body is led by African American (71%) and White (12%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 324 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 35.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 24.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 466 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 973 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 16 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Macon's middle schools, it stands alongside Weaver Middle School (894 students): Howard Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16:1 vs 14.9:1).
Bibb County also operates Howard High School (1,145 students) and Westside High School (1,013 students) alongside Howard Middle School.
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 Howard Middle School compares
Howard Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 11% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 65% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 973 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
973
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 76% in Georgia - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
35.7%
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
$14,591
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $13,863
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 324 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
223
in-school suspensions + 243 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 47.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 16 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 71.4%
White 11.7%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 71.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.7, Howard Middle School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bibb County, which includes Howard Middle School.
$14,591
Per student
+5%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.9%
State 36.6%
Federal 24.5%
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 Howard Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westside High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rutland High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Weaver Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howard Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,145
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 921
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 894
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 892
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in Macon
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Weaver Middle School
Standard public school
894 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Rutland Middle School
Standard public school
849 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Appling Middle School
Standard public school
677 students 15:1 students per teacher
Ballard Hudson Middle School
Standard public school
671 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Miller Magnet Middle School
Standard public school
614 students 15:1 students per teacher
Clifton Ridge Middle School
Standard public school
482 students 12.1:1 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 (~973 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Howard Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Howard Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Bibb 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 Howard Middle School
How many students attend Howard Middle School?
Howard Middle School has 973 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Macon, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard Middle School is 16:1, which is 11% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Howard Middle School?
100.0% of students at Howard Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howard Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Howard Middle School is African American at 71.4% of enrollment, in Macon, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howard Middle School?
Howard Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Howard Middle School rank among middle schools in Macon?
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Middle School ranks #4 of 7 middle schools in Macon, 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 Macon on the city page.
Is Howard Middle School a good school?
Howard Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of 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 Bibb County?
Besides Howard Middle School, Bibb County also operates Howard High School (1,145 students), Westside High School (1,013 students), and Rutland High School (921 students). See the Bibb 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.