- Enrollment
- 1,862
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Central, SC
R. C. Edwards Middle
Federal NCES profile for R. C. Edwards Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450333000897
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
R. C. Edwards Middle earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Central · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 52.1%
- free-lunch eligible
R. C. Edwards Middle has class sizes larger than 90% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, R. C. Edwards Middle ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Central, SC.
School address
District: Pickens 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450333000897 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-57 students YoY
R. C. Edwards Middle shrank from 840 students in 2022-23 to 783 in 2023-24 (-6.8%).
Teacher FTE held 47.5 → 47.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-57 students YoY 450333000897 · Central, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
835 enr · 17.8:1 · 52.1% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Easley High (1,862 students)
R. C. Edwards Middle shrank from 840 students in 2022-23 to 783 in 2023-24 (-6.8%). Teacher FTE held 47.5 → 47.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
R. C. Edwards Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Easley High
Easley High
1,862 students
- Pickens High
Pickens High
1,226 students
- D. W. Daniel H
D. W. Daniel High
1,222 students
- Richard H. Get
Richard H. Gettys Middle
1,217 students
- This school
R. C. Edwards Middle
835 students
- Clemson Elemen
Clemson Elementary
794 students
What this shows R. C. Edwards Middle reports 835 students on the CCD universe file.
How R. C. Edwards Middle compares
R. C. Edwards 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 | 17.8:1 | ▲ 24% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.1% | ▼ 30% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 835 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
835
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 90% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.4%
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
$11,485
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
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 418 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
90
in-school suspensions + 108 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 73.4%
African American 8.9%
Two or More 7.7%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%
Asian 3.2%
Largest group: White at 73.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.2, R. C. Edwards Middle is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pickens 01 reports $11,485 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How R. C. Edwards Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pickens High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| D. W. Daniel High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richard H. Gettys Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clemson Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to R. C. Edwards Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,226
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,222
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,217
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 794
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~835 students)
Frequently asked questions about R. C. Edwards Middle
How many students attend R. C. Edwards Middle?
R. C. Edwards Middle has 835 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Central, SC. CCD year-over-year: 840 (2022-23) → 783 (2023-24), down 57.
What is the student-teacher ratio at R. C. Edwards Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at R. C. Edwards Middle is 17.8:1, which is 24% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at R. C. Edwards Middle?
52.1% of students at R. C. Edwards Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of R. C. Edwards Middle?
The largest demographic group at R. C. Edwards Middle is White at 73.4% of enrollment, in Central, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for R. C. Edwards Middle?
R. C. Edwards Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 R. C. Edwards Middle rank among public schools in Central?
By Resource Investment Index, R. C. Edwards Middle ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Central, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Pickens 01?
Besides R. C. Edwards Middle, Pickens 01 also operates Easley High (1,862 students), Pickens High (1,226 students), and D. W. Daniel High (1,222 students). See the Pickens 01 district page for the complete list.