- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbus, GA
Richards Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Richards Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130387001400
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Richards Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Georgia schools.
- #5 of 10
- middle schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 96.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Richards Middle School has class sizes larger than 87% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Richards Middle School ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387001400 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Richards Middle School held near 809 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 46.5 → 47.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 130387001400 · Columbus, GA Middle · MID · TRAD
799 enr · 17.4:1 · 96.6% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (1,405 students)
Richards Middle School held near 809 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 46.5 → 47.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Richards Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Northside High
Northside High School
1,405 students
- Shaw High Scho
Shaw High School
1,162 students
- Columbus High
Columbus High School
1,161 students
- Hardaway High
Hardaway High School
1,067 students
- Jordan Vocatio
Jordan Vocational High School
1,040 students
- This school
Richards Middle School
799 students
What this shows Richards Middle School reports 799 students on the CCD universe file.
How Richards Middle School compares
Richards Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 21% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.6% | ▲ 59% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 799 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
799
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 87% in Georgia - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.8%
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
$13,792
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $14,615
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 400 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
134
in-school suspensions + 142 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 34.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 48.8%
White 25.3%
Hispanic or Latino 10.3%
Two or More 8.5%
Asian 7.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 48.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.5, Richards Middle School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Muscogee County reports $13,792 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Richards Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shaw High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbus High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hardaway High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Vocational High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Richards Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,162
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,040
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar middle schools in Columbus
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Veterans Memorial Middle School
Standard public school
681 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Baker Middle School
Standard public school
631 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Arnold Middle School
Standard public school
582 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Rothschild Leadership Academy School
Standard public school
498 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Blackmon Road Middle School
Standard public school
478 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Eddy Middle School
Standard public school
448 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
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 (~799 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Richards Middle School
How many students attend Richards Middle School?
Richards Middle School has 799 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbus, GA. CCD year-over-year: 819 (2022-23) → 809 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Richards Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Richards Middle School is 17.4:1, which is 21% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Richards Middle School?
96.6% of students at Richards Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Richards Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Richards Middle School is African American at 48.8% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Richards Middle School?
Richards Middle School 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 Richards Middle School rank among middle schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Richards Middle School ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Columbus on the city page.
What other schools are in Muscogee County?
Besides Richards Middle School, Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students), Shaw High School (1,162 students), and Columbus High School (1,161 students). See the Muscogee County district page for the complete list.