Enrollment
803
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Kennesaw, GA
Palmer Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Palmer Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130129002476
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmer Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #5 of 5
- middle schools in Kennesaw · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 34.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmer Middle School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Middle School ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Kennesaw, GA.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
34.9%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Palmer Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Palmer Middle School
Palmer Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in Kennesaw, Georgia, enrolling 803 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 34.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 803 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 413 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #340, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (36%) and African American (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 402 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 360 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 803 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Kennesaw's middle schools, it stands alongside Mcclure Middle School (1,030 students): Palmer Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.2:1 vs 16.1:1).
Cobb County also operates Campbell High School (3,085 students) and Osborne High School (2,790 students) alongside Palmer 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 Palmer Middle School compares
Palmer 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 | 15.2:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.9% | ▼ 43% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 803 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
803
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
34.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 67% in Georgia - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.9%
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
$13,203
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 402 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
208
in-school suspensions + 152 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 25.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 44.8 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
White 35.9%
African American 27.1%
Hispanic or Latino 23.8%
Two or More 8.8%
Asian 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 35.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.2, Palmer 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 Cobb County, which includes Palmer Middle School.
$13,203
Per student
-5%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 52.6%
State 35.4%
Federal 11.9%
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 Palmer Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Osborne High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pebblebrook High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Cobb High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmer Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,085
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,790
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,705
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,574
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,463
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools in Kennesaw
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Mcclure Middle School
Standard public school
1,030 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Lost Mountain Middle School
Standard public school
979 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Awtrey Middle School
Standard public school
593 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Pine Mountain Middle School
Standard public school
506 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~803 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Palmer Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Palmer Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Cobb 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 Palmer Middle School
How many students attend Palmer Middle School?
Palmer Middle School has 803 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Kennesaw, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmer Middle School is 15.2:1, which is 6% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Palmer Middle School?
34.9% of students at Palmer Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmer Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Palmer Middle School is White at 35.9% of enrollment, in Kennesaw, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmer Middle School?
Palmer Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Palmer Middle School rank among middle schools in Kennesaw?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Middle School ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Kennesaw, 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 Kennesaw on the city page.
Is Palmer Middle School a good school?
Palmer Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia 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 Cobb County?
Besides Palmer Middle School, Cobb County also operates Campbell High School (3,085 students), Osborne High School (2,790 students), and Walton High School (2,705 students). See the Cobb 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.