- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · West Columbia, SC
Northside Middle
Federal NCES profile for Northside Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450273001271
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northside Middle earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #4 of 4
- middle schools in West Columbia · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 84.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Northside Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northside Middle ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in West Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Lexington 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450273001271 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-59 students YoY
Northside Middle shrank from 555 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-10.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 38.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-59 students YoY 450273001271 · West Columbia, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
528 enr · 12.9:1 · 84.7% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Airport High (1,272 students)
Northside Middle shrank from 555 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-10.6%). Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 38.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Northside Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Airport High
Airport High
1,272 students
- Brookland-Cayc
Brookland-Cayce High
1,212 students
- Riverbank Elem
Riverbank Elementary
996 students
- Cayce Elementa
Cayce Elementary
977 students
- Herbert a. Woo
Herbert a. Wood Elementary
938 students
- This school
Northside Middle
528 students
What this shows Northside Middle reports 528 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northside Middle compares
Northside Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.7% | ▲ 14% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 528 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
528
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
84.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 33% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
33.3%
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
$14,535
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 528 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
197
in-school suspensions + 140 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 37.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 63.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 45.5%
African American 24.4%
White 23.5%
Two or More 4.4%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.6, Northside Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lexington 02 reports $14,535 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northside Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookland-Cayce High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Riverbank Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cayce Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Herbert a. Wood Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northside Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,212
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 977
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 938
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar middle schools in West Columbia
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~528 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northside Middle
How many students attend Northside Middle?
Northside Middle has 528 students enrolled. It is a middle school in West Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 555 (2022-23) → 496 (2023-24), down 59.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northside Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Northside Middle is 12.9:1, which is 10% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 18% 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 Northside Middle?
84.7% of students at Northside Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northside Middle?
The largest demographic group at Northside Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 45.5% of enrollment, in West Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northside Middle?
Northside Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northside Middle rank among middle schools in West Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Northside Middle ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in West Columbia, 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 West Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Lexington 02?
Besides Northside Middle, Lexington 02 also operates Airport High (1,272 students), Brookland-Cayce High (1,212 students), and Riverbank Elementary (996 students). See the Lexington 02 district page for the complete list.