Enrollment
573
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · North Augusta, SC
Paul Knox Middle
Federal NCES profile for Paul Knox Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450072000050
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul Knox Middle earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in North Augusta · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 43.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul Knox Middle has class sizes larger than 70% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Knox Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in North Augusta, SC.
School address
District: Aiken 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450072000050 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.9%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Paul Knox Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Paul Knox Middle
Paul Knox Middle is a mid-sized middle school in North Augusta, South Carolina, enrolling 573 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.5:1 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 43.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 573 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 119 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #69.
Its student body is led by White (51%) and African American (27%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 287 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.4% 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: 267 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 573 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among North Augusta's middle schools, it stands alongside North Augusta Middle (492 students): Paul Knox Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.5:1 vs 15.9:1).
Aiken 01 also operates North Augusta High (1,645 students) and Midland Valley High (1,558 students) alongside Paul Knox 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 Paul Knox Middle compares
Paul Knox 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 | 15.5:1 | ▲ 8% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.9% | ▼ 41% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 573 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
573
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
43.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 70% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.4%
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
$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 287 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
181
in-school suspensions + 86 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 31.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 46.6 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 51.0%
African American 27.1%
Hispanic or Latino 13.8%
Two or More 7.5%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 51.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.2, Paul Knox 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 Paul Knox 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 Paul Knox Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Augusta High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Midland Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Aiken High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Aiken High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Silver Bluff High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul Knox 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 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 (~573 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Paul Knox Middle's federal record.
- Compare Paul Knox 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 Paul Knox Middle
How many students attend Paul Knox Middle?
Paul Knox Middle has 573 students enrolled. It is a middle school in North Augusta, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Knox Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Knox Middle is 15.5:1, which is 8% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul Knox Middle?
43.9% of students at Paul Knox Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul Knox Middle?
The largest demographic group at Paul Knox Middle is White at 51.0% of enrollment, in North Augusta, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul Knox Middle?
Paul Knox Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Paul Knox Middle rank among middle schools in North Augusta?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Knox Middle ranks #2 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 Paul Knox Middle a good school?
Paul Knox Middle earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% 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 Paul Knox 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.