Enrollment
973
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chesnee, SC
Rainbow Lake Middle
Federal NCES profile for Rainbow Lake Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450351001558
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 15
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rainbow Lake Middle earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 6
- public schools in Chesnee · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 62.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Rainbow Lake Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rainbow Lake Middle ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Chesnee, SC.
School address
District: Spartanburg 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450351001558 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
64.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.7%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rainbow Lake Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rainbow Lake Middle
Rainbow Lake Middle is a higher-need, large middle school in Chesnee, South Carolina, enrolling 973 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.2:1 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 62.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 973 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 1,214 South Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 149 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #142, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and African American (16%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 487 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Spartanburg 02 spends $10,757 per pupil, 26% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 385 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 973 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 6 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Chesnee's middle schools, it stands alongside Chesnee Middle (569 students): Rainbow Lake Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.2:1 vs 16.3:1).
Spartanburg 02 also operates Boiling Springs High (2,772 students) and Boiling Springs Middle (1,122 students) alongside Rainbow Lake 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 Rainbow Lake Middle compares
Rainbow Lake 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 | 15.2:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.7% | ▼ 15% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 973 | top 14% | - | - |
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.
973
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 66% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.1%
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
$10,757
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 487 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
116
in-school suspensions + 269 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 39.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 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 58.3%
African American 16.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.1%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 58.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.9, Rainbow Lake 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 Spartanburg 02, which includes Rainbow Lake Middle.
$10,757
Per student
-26%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-35%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.4%
State 53.0%
Federal 13.6%
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 Rainbow Lake Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling Springs High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Boiling Springs Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sugar Ridge Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Boiling Springs Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shoally Creek Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rainbow Lake Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,772
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,122
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 864
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 791
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 742
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Chesnee
1 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 (~973 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rainbow Lake Middle's federal record.
- Compare Rainbow Lake Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Spartanburg 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 Rainbow Lake Middle
How many students attend Rainbow Lake Middle?
Rainbow Lake Middle has 973 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chesnee, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rainbow Lake Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Rainbow Lake Middle is 15.2:1, which is 6% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rainbow Lake Middle?
62.7% of students at Rainbow Lake Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rainbow Lake Middle?
The largest demographic group at Rainbow Lake Middle is White at 58.3% of enrollment, in Chesnee, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rainbow Lake Middle?
Rainbow Lake Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Rainbow Lake Middle rank among public schools in Chesnee?
By Resource Investment Index, Rainbow Lake Middle ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Chesnee, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Chesnee on the city page.
Is Rainbow Lake Middle a good school?
Rainbow Lake Middle earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. 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 Spartanburg 02?
Besides Rainbow Lake Middle, Spartanburg 02 also operates Boiling Springs High (2,772 students), Boiling Springs Middle (1,122 students), and Sugar Ridge Elementary (864 students). See the Spartanburg 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.