Enrollment
365
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · North Augusta, SC
Merriwether Middle
Federal NCES profile for Merriwether Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450207000038
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merriwether Middle earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in North Augusta · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 55.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Merriwether Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merriwether Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in North Augusta, SC.
School address
District: Edgefield 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450207000038 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
55.9%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Merriwether Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Merriwether Middle
Merriwether Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in North Augusta, South Carolina, enrolling 365 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 55.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 365 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Among 56 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #44, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (63%) and African American (21%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 365 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 134 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 365 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 10 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among North Augusta's middle schools, it stands alongside Paul Knox Middle (573 students): Merriwether Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13:1 vs 15.5:1).
Edgefield 01 also operates Merriwether Elementary (760 students) and Strom Thurmond High (720 students) alongside Merriwether 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 Merriwether Middle compares
Merriwether 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 | 13:1 | ▼ 9% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.9% | ▼ 24% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 365 | top 75% | - | - |
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.
365
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
55.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
13:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 35% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.4%
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
$15,235
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $14,558
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 365 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
66
in-school suspensions + 68 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 36.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 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 63.3%
African American 21.1%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
Two or More 6.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 63.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.3, Merriwether Middle is about as mixed as the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Edgefield 01, which includes Merriwether Middle.
$15,235
Per student
+5%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.6%
State 47.9%
Federal 17.6%
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 Merriwether Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merriwether Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Strom Thurmond High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| W. E. Parker Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Johnston Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merriwether Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 760
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 720
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 394
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 339
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 276
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar middle schools in North Augusta
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 (~365 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Merriwether Middle's federal record.
- Compare Merriwether Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Edgefield 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 Merriwether Middle
How many students attend Merriwether Middle?
Merriwether Middle has 365 students enrolled. It is a middle school in North Augusta, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merriwether Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Merriwether Middle is 13:1, which is 9% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 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 Merriwether Middle?
55.9% of students at Merriwether Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merriwether Middle?
The largest demographic group at Merriwether Middle is White at 63.3% of enrollment, in North Augusta, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merriwether Middle?
Merriwether Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Merriwether Middle rank among middle schools in North Augusta?
By Resource Investment Index, Merriwether Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in North Augusta, 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 North Augusta on the city page.
Is Merriwether Middle a good school?
Merriwether Middle earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina 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 Edgefield 01?
Besides Merriwether Middle, Edgefield 01 also operates Merriwether Elementary (760 students), Strom Thurmond High (720 students), and Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle (394 students). See the Edgefield 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.