- Enrollment
- 992
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Orangeburg, SC
Robert E. Howard Middle
Federal NCES profile for Robert E. Howard Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450391001291
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 10
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Robert E. Howard Middle earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #5 of 12
- public schools in Orangeburg · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Robert E. Howard Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Robert E. Howard Middle ranks #5 of 12 public schools in Orangeburg, SC.
School address
District: Orangeburg · South Carolina
NCES ID 450391001291 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Robert E. Howard Middle held near 413 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.6 → 24.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+17 students YoY 450391001291 · Orangeburg, SC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
396 enr · 15.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Orangeburg Wilkinson High (992 students)
Robert E. Howard Middle held near 413 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.6 → 24.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Robert E. Howard Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Orangeburg Wil
Orangeburg Wilkinson High
992 students
- Lake Marion Hi
Lake Marion High School
692 students
- Edisto Primary
Edisto Primary
635 students
- Marshall Eleme
Marshall Elementary
625 students
- Edisto High
Edisto High
614 students
- This school 396
Robert E. Howard Middle
396 students
What this shows Robert E. Howard Middle reports 396 students on the CCD universe file.
How Robert E. Howard Middle compares
Robert E. Howard Middle held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 15.2:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 396 | top 72% | - | - |
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.
396
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
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
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
36.1%
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
$16,571
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 198 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
93
in-school suspensions + 123 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 23.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 54.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 88.6%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%
Two or More 4.0%
White 1.8%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 88.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.0, Robert E. Howard Middle is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Orangeburg reports $16,571 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Robert E. Howard Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg Wilkinson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lake Marion High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Edisto Primary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Marshall Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edisto High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Robert E. Howard Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 692
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 635
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 625
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar middle schools in Orangeburg
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~396 students)
Frequently asked questions about Robert E. Howard Middle
How many students attend Robert E. Howard Middle?
Robert E. Howard Middle has 396 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Orangeburg, SC. CCD year-over-year: 396 (2022-23) → 413 (2023-24), nearly flat (+17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Robert E. Howard Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Robert E. Howard 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 Robert E. Howard Middle?
100.0% of students at Robert E. Howard Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Robert E. Howard Middle?
The largest demographic group at Robert E. Howard Middle is African American at 88.6% of enrollment, in Orangeburg, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Robert E. Howard Middle?
Robert E. Howard Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Robert E. Howard Middle rank among public schools in Orangeburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Robert E. Howard Middle ranks #5 of 12 public schools in Orangeburg, 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 Orangeburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Orangeburg?
Besides Robert E. Howard Middle, Orangeburg also operates Orangeburg Wilkinson High (992 students), Lake Marion High School (692 students), and Edisto Primary (635 students). See the Orangeburg district page for the complete list.