Enrollment
531
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Powder Springs, GA
J. a. Dobbins Middle School
Federal NCES profile for J. a. Dobbins Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130402001786
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. a. Dobbins Middle School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Powder Springs · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 50.4%
- free-lunch eligible
J. a. Dobbins Middle School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. a. Dobbins Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Powder Springs, GA.
School address
District: Paulding County · Georgia
NCES ID 130402001786 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
41.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
50.4%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J. a. Dobbins Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at J. a. Dobbins Middle School
J. a. Dobbins Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Powder Springs, Georgia, enrolling 531 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13:1 puts it in the smaller third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 50.4% lands close to the Georgia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 531 students, its enrollment sits close to the Georgia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 2,314 Georgia schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 377 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #356, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (39%) and Hispanic or Latino (30%) (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 531 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 40.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 289 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 531 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Powder Springs's middle schools, it stands alongside Lovinggood Middle School (1,209 students): J. a. Dobbins Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13:1 vs 16.8:1).
Paulding County also operates North Paulding High School (3,015 students) and Paulding County High School (2,099 students) alongside J. a. Dobbins 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 J. a. Dobbins Middle School compares
J. a. Dobbins 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 | 13:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.4% | ▼ 17% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 531 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
531
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
50.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 32% in Georgia - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
40.7%
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
$11,640
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 531 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
175
in-school suspensions + 114 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 33.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 54.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 38.6%
Hispanic or Latino 29.6%
White 24.5%
Two or More 6.8%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 38.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.9, J. a. Dobbins Middle School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paulding County, which includes J. a. Dobbins Middle School.
$11,640
Per student
-16%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.7%
State 51.2%
Federal 12.1%
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 J. a. Dobbins Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Paulding High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paulding County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Paulding High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Paulding High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hiram High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. a. Dobbins Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,015
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,099
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,985
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,881
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,460
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in Powder Springs
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~531 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J. a. Dobbins Middle School's federal record.
- Compare J. a. Dobbins Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Paulding 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 J. a. Dobbins Middle School
How many students attend J. a. Dobbins Middle School?
J. a. Dobbins Middle School has 531 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Powder Springs, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. a. Dobbins Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at J. a. Dobbins Middle School is 13:1, which is 10% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 17% 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 J. a. Dobbins Middle School?
50.4% of students at J. a. Dobbins Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. a. Dobbins Middle School?
The largest demographic group at J. a. Dobbins Middle School is African American at 38.6% of enrollment, in Powder Springs, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. a. Dobbins Middle School?
J. a. Dobbins Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 J. a. Dobbins Middle School rank among middle schools in Powder Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, J. a. Dobbins Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Powder Springs, 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 Powder Springs on the city page.
Is J. a. Dobbins Middle School a good school?
J. a. Dobbins Middle School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia 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 Paulding County?
Besides J. a. Dobbins Middle School, Paulding County also operates North Paulding High School (3,015 students), Paulding County High School (2,099 students), and East Paulding High School (1,985 students). See the Paulding 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.