Enrollment
526
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · West Columbia, SC
R. H. Fulmer Middle
Federal NCES profile for R. H. Fulmer Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450273001273
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
R. H. Fulmer Middle earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 4
- middle schools in West Columbia · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.4:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
R. H. Fulmer Middle has class sizes smaller than 84% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, R. H. Fulmer Middle ranks #1 of 4 middle schools in West Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Lexington 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450273001273 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.4:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How R. H. Fulmer Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at R. H. Fulmer Middle
R. H. Fulmer Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in West Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 526 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 11.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 526 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 385 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #154.
Its student body is led by White (42%) and African American (34%) (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 263 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 38.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 302 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 526 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 7 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among West Columbia's middle schools, it stands alongside White Knoll Middle (693 students): R. H. Fulmer Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (11.4:1 vs 10.5:1).
Lexington 02 also operates Airport High (1,272 students) and Brookland-Cayce High (1,212 students) alongside R. H. Fulmer 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 R. H. Fulmer Middle compares
R. H. Fulmer 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 | 11.4:1 | ▼ 20% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 526 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.4:1
Leaner classes than 80% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
526
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
11.4:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 16% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
38.4%
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
$14,320
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
185
in-school suspensions + 117 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 35.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 57.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
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 42.0%
African American 33.5%
Hispanic or Latino 17.5%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 42.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, R. H. Fulmer 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 Lexington 02, which includes R. H. Fulmer Middle.
$14,320
Per student
-2%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 41.1%
State 41.7%
Federal 17.2%
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 R. H. Fulmer Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookland-Cayce High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverbank Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cayce Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Herbert a. Wood Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to R. H. Fulmer Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- 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.
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 (~526 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on R. H. Fulmer Middle's federal record.
- Compare R. H. Fulmer Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Lexington 02'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 R. H. Fulmer Middle
How many students attend R. H. Fulmer Middle?
R. H. Fulmer Middle has 526 students enrolled. It is a middle school in West Columbia, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at R. H. Fulmer Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at R. H. Fulmer Middle is 11.4:1, which is 20% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 27% 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 R. H. Fulmer Middle?
100.0% of students at R. H. Fulmer Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of R. H. Fulmer Middle?
The largest demographic group at R. H. Fulmer Middle is White at 42.0% of enrollment, in West Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for R. H. Fulmer Middle?
R. H. Fulmer Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 R. H. Fulmer Middle rank among middle schools in West Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, R. H. Fulmer Middle ranks #1 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.
Is R. H. Fulmer Middle a good school?
R. H. Fulmer Middle earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% 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 Lexington 02?
Besides R. H. Fulmer 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.
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.