- Enrollment
- 1,434
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Laurens, SC
Sanders Middle
Federal NCES profile for Sanders Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450261000699
👥 S:T ratio 64
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sanders Middle earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 6
- public schools in Laurens · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8.9:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sanders Middle has class sizes smaller than 95% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sanders Middle ranks #1 of 6 public schools in Laurens, SC.
School address
District: Laurens 55 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450261000699 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-42 students YoY
Sanders Middle shrank from 331 students in 2022-23 to 289 in 2023-24 (-12.7%).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-42 students YoY 450261000699 · Laurens, SC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
250 enr · 8.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Laurens District 55 High (1,434 students)
Sanders Middle shrank from 331 students in 2022-23 to 289 in 2023-24 (-12.7%). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Sanders Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Laurens Distri
Laurens District 55 High
1,434 students
- Gray Court-Owi
Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle
715 students
- Hickory Tavern
Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle
623 students
- Laurens Elemen 465
Laurens Elementary
465 students
- E. B. Morse El 447
E. B. Morse Elementary
447 students
- This school 250
Sanders Middle
250 students
What this shows Sanders Middle reports 250 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sanders Middle compares
Sanders 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 | 8.9:1 | ▼ 38% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 250 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.9:1
Leaner classes than 93% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
250
Bigger than 25% 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
8.9:1
students per teacher
- 38% below state mean
Top 5% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
48.4%
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
$14,216
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 250 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
98
in-school suspensions + 98 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 39.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 78.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 45.6%
White 34.0%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Two or More 4.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 45.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.9, Sanders Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Laurens 55 reports $14,216 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sanders Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens District 55 High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Laurens Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| E. B. Morse Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sanders Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 715
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in Laurens
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 (~250 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sanders Middle
How many students attend Sanders Middle?
Sanders Middle has 250 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Laurens, SC. CCD year-over-year: 331 (2022-23) → 289 (2023-24), down 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sanders Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Sanders Middle is 8.9:1, which is 38% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 43% 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 Sanders Middle?
100.0% of students at Sanders Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sanders Middle?
The largest demographic group at Sanders Middle is African American at 45.6% of enrollment, in Laurens, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sanders Middle?
Sanders Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Sanders Middle rank among public schools in Laurens?
By Resource Investment Index, Sanders Middle ranks #1 of 6 public schools in Laurens, 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 Laurens on the city page.
What other schools are in Laurens 55?
Besides Sanders Middle, Laurens 55 also operates Laurens District 55 High (1,434 students), Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle (715 students), and Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle (623 students). See the Laurens 55 district page for the complete list.