- Enrollment
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · North Charleston, SC
River Oaks Middle
Federal NCES profile for River Oaks Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450201001489
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
River Oaks Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of South Carolina schools.
- #3 of 5
- middle schools in North Charleston · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.6:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 76.4%
- free-lunch eligible
River Oaks Middle has class sizes smaller than 71% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, River Oaks Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in North Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Dorchester 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450201001489 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-48 students YoY
River Oaks Middle shrank from 849 students in 2022-23 to 801 in 2023-24 (-5.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 58.8 → 50.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-48 students YoY 450201001489 · North Charleston, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
728 enr · 12.6:1 · 76.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Summerville High (3,361 students)
River Oaks Middle shrank from 849 students in 2022-23 to 801 in 2023-24 (-5.7%). Teacher FTE lost 58.8 → 50.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
River Oaks Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Summerville Hi
Summerville High
3,361 students
- Ashley Ridge H
Ashley Ridge High
2,599 students
- Fort Dorcheste
Fort Dorchester High
2,344 students
- Sand Hill Elem 1,169
Sand Hill Elementary
1,169 students
- Beech Hill Ele 1,079
Beech Hill Elementary
1,079 students
- This school 728
River Oaks Middle
728 students
What this shows River Oaks Middle reports 728 students on the CCD universe file.
How River Oaks Middle compares
River Oaks 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 12% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.4% | ▲ 3% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 728 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
728
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 29% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
45.5%
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
$11,212
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 243 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
328
in-school suspensions + 227 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 45.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 76.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 42.2%
Hispanic or Latino 24.3%
White 21.7%
Two or More 9.5%
Asian 2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 42.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.6, River Oaks Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dorchester 02 reports $11,212 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How River Oaks Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ashley Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Dorchester High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Hill Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beech Hill Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to River Oaks Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,599
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,344
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,079
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in North Charleston
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Northwoods Middle
Standard public school
708 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Morningside Middle
Standard public school
552 students 10.4:1 students per teacher
Jerry Zucker Middle School of Science
Standard public school
513 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Deer Park Middle
Standard public school
315 students 14.3:1 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 (~728 students)
Frequently asked questions about River Oaks Middle
How many students attend River Oaks Middle?
River Oaks Middle has 728 students enrolled. It is a middle school in North Charleston, SC. CCD year-over-year: 849 (2022-23) → 801 (2023-24), down 48.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Oaks Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at River Oaks Middle is 12.6:1, which is 12% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 20% 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 River Oaks Middle?
76.4% of students at River Oaks Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of River Oaks Middle?
The largest demographic group at River Oaks Middle is African American at 42.2% of enrollment, in North Charleston, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for River Oaks Middle?
River Oaks Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 River Oaks Middle rank among middle schools in North Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, River Oaks Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in North Charleston, 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 North Charleston on the city page.
What other schools are in Dorchester 02?
Besides River Oaks Middle, Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students), Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students), and Fort Dorchester High (2,344 students). See the Dorchester 02 district page for the complete list.