Enrollment
643
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Aiken, SC
M. B. Kennedy Middle
Federal NCES profile for M. B. Kennedy Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450072001197
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
M. B. Kennedy Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of South Carolina schools.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Aiken · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 47.3%
- free-lunch eligible
M. B. Kennedy Middle has class sizes larger than 90% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, M. B. Kennedy Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Aiken, SC.
School address
District: Aiken 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450072001197 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.9:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.3%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How M. B. Kennedy Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at M. B. Kennedy Middle
M. B. Kennedy Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Aiken, South Carolina, enrolling 643 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.9:1 is larger than about 90% of South Carolina schools and 25% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 47.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 643 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Among 144 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #114, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (44%) and African American (34%) (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 322 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Aiken 01 spends $11,604 per pupil, 20% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 306 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 643 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Aiken's middle schools, it stands alongside Aiken Intermediate (427 students): M. B. Kennedy Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.9:1 vs 15.8:1).
Aiken 01 also operates North Augusta High (1,645 students) and Midland Valley High (1,558 students) alongside M. B. Kennedy Middle.
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 M. B. Kennedy Middle compares
M. B. Kennedy Middle on the metrics families compare, against South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.9:1 | ▲ 25% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.3% | ▼ 36% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 643 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
643
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below 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
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 90% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
30.3%
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
$11,604
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
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 322 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
169
in-school suspensions + 137 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 47.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 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
White 44.4%
African American 34.4%
Hispanic or Latino 13.9%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 44.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, M. B. Kennedy Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Aiken 01, which includes M. B. Kennedy Middle.
$11,604
Per student
-20%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.3%
State 45.4%
Federal 15.3%
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 M. B. Kennedy Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Augusta High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Midland Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Aiken High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Aiken High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Silver Bluff High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to M. B. Kennedy Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,645
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,558
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,349
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,097
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar middle schools in Aiken
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 South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~643 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on M. B. Kennedy Middle's federal record.
- Compare M. B. Kennedy Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Aiken 01'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 M. B. Kennedy Middle
How many students attend M. B. Kennedy Middle?
M. B. Kennedy Middle has 643 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Aiken, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at M. B. Kennedy Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at M. B. Kennedy Middle is 17.9:1, which is 25% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at M. B. Kennedy Middle?
47.3% of students at M. B. Kennedy Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of M. B. Kennedy Middle?
The largest demographic group at M. B. Kennedy Middle is White at 44.4% of enrollment, in Aiken, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for M. B. Kennedy Middle?
M. B. Kennedy Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 M. B. Kennedy Middle rank among middle schools in Aiken?
By Resource Investment Index, M. B. Kennedy Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Aiken, 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 Aiken on the city page.
Is M. B. Kennedy Middle a good school?
M. B. Kennedy Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of South Carolina 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 Aiken 01?
Besides M. B. Kennedy Middle, Aiken 01 also operates North Augusta High (1,645 students), Midland Valley High (1,558 students), and South Aiken High (1,349 students). See the Aiken 01 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.