- Enrollment
- 596
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Mill Spring, NC
Polk County Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Polk County Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370372002790
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 64
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Polk County Middle School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Mill Spring · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.9:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 52.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Polk County Middle School has class sizes smaller than 88% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Polk County Middle School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Mill Spring, NC.
School address
District: Polk County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370372002790 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Polk County Middle School held near 471 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 38.8 → 40.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 370372002790 · Mill Spring, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
454 enr · 11.9:1 · 52.8% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Polk County High School (596 students)
Polk County Middle School held near 471 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 38.8 → 40.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Polk County Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Polk County Hi
Polk County High School
596 students
- This school
Polk County Middle School
454 students
- Polk Central E
Polk Central Elementary School
379 students
- Tryon Elementa
Tryon Elementary School
367 students
- Saluda Element 142
Saluda Elementary School
142 students
- Sunny View Ele 120
Sunny View Elementary School
120 students
What this shows Polk County Middle School reports 454 students on the CCD universe file.
How Polk County Middle School compares
Polk County Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 25% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.8% | ▼ 20% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 454 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
454
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 12% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.9%
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
$15,041
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 182 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
51
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 74.7%
Hispanic or Latino 14.1%
Two or More 6.4%
African American 4.2%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 74.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.6, Polk County Middle School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Polk County Schools reports $15,041 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Polk County Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Polk Central Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tryon Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Saluda Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sunny View Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Polk County Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 379
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 367
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 142
- Students per teacher
- 9.5:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 120
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
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 (~454 students)
Frequently asked questions about Polk County Middle School
How many students attend Polk County Middle School?
Polk County Middle School has 454 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Mill Spring, NC. CCD year-over-year: 475 (2022-23) → 471 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polk County Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Polk County Middle School is 11.9:1, which is 25% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 24% 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 Polk County Middle School?
52.8% of students at Polk County Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Polk County Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Polk County Middle School is White at 74.7% of enrollment, in Mill Spring, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Polk County Middle School?
Polk County Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 Polk County Middle School rank among public schools in Mill Spring?
By Resource Investment Index, Polk County Middle School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Mill Spring, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Polk County Schools?
Besides Polk County Middle School, Polk County Schools also operates Polk County High School (596 students), Polk Central Elementary School (379 students), and Tryon Elementary School (367 students). See the Polk County Schools district page for the complete list.