Enrollment
552
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · North Charleston, SC
Morningside Middle
Federal NCES profile for Morningside Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450144000215
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Morningside Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of South Carolina schools.
- #3 of 5
- middle schools in North Charleston · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.4:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Morningside Middle has class sizes smaller than 90% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Morningside Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in North Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Charleston 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450144000215 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.4:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Morningside Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Morningside Middle
Morningside Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in North Charleston, South Carolina, enrolling 552 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 10.4:1, Morningside Middle is leaner than roughly 90% of South Carolina schools and 27% under the state's 14.3:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 552 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 374 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #156.
Its student body is led by African American (48%) and Hispanic or Latino (44%) (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 276 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 73.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 377 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 552 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among North Charleston's middle schools, it stands alongside River Oaks Middle (728 students): Morningside Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (10.4:1 vs 12.6:1).
Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students) and Rb Stall High (2,135 students) alongside Morningside 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 Morningside Middle compares
Morningside 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 | 10.4:1 | ▼ 27% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 552 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.4:1
Leaner classes than 87% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
552
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
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
10.4:1
students per teacher
- 27% below state mean
Top 10% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
73.6%
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
$15,213
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 276 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
128
in-school suspensions + 249 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 23.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 68.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 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 48.4%
Hispanic or Latino 43.8%
White 4.3%
Two or More 2.4%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 48.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.1, Morningside 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 Charleston 01, which includes Morningside Middle.
$15,213
Per student
+4%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 59.0%
State 27.7%
Federal 13.3%
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 Morningside Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wando High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rb Stall High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Ashley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lucy Garrett Beckham High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| James Island Charter High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Morningside Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,135
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,069
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,757
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar middle schools in North Charleston
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
River Oaks Middle
Standard public school
728 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Northwoods Middle
Standard public school
708 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Jerry Zucker Middle School of Science
Standard public school
513 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Deer Park Middle
Standard public school
315 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~552 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Morningside Middle's federal record.
- Compare Morningside Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Charleston 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 Morningside Middle
How many students attend Morningside Middle?
Morningside Middle has 552 students enrolled. It is a middle school in North Charleston, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Morningside Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Morningside Middle is 10.4:1, which is 27% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 34% 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 Morningside Middle?
100.0% of students at Morningside Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Morningside Middle?
The largest demographic group at Morningside Middle is African American at 48.4% of enrollment, in North Charleston, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Morningside Middle?
Morningside Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Morningside Middle rank among middle schools in North Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, Morningside Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in North Charleston, 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 Charleston on the city page.
Is Morningside Middle a good school?
Morningside Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller 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 Charleston 01?
Besides Morningside Middle, Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students), Rb Stall High (2,135 students), and West Ashley High (2,069 students). See the Charleston 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.