Enrollment
728
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
58.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.6:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
76.4%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How River Oaks Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at River Oaks Middle
River Oaks Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in North Charleston, South Carolina, enrolling 728 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 76.4% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 728 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 119 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #49.
Its student body is led by African American (42%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 243 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dorchester 02 spends $11,173 per pupil, 23% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 555 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 728 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among North Charleston's middle schools, it stands alongside Northwoods Middle (708 students): River Oaks Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.6:1 vs 15.1:1).
Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students) and Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students) alongside River Oaks 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 River Oaks Middle compares
River Oaks 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$11,173
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
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dorchester 02, which includes River Oaks Middle.
$11,173
Per student
-23%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.4%
State 53.8%
Federal 13.8%
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 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
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- 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
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 (~728 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on River Oaks Middle's federal record.
- Compare River Oaks Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Dorchester 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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is River Oaks Middle a good school?
River Oaks Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% 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 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.
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.