Enrollment
402
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Jackson, MI
South Central Michigan Virtual
Federal NCES profile for South Central Michigan Virtual, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 12/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261962008719
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Central Michigan Virtual earns 12/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Jackson · Resource Index
- 12
- Resource Index · Lower
- 80.4:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 80.8%
- free-lunch eligible
South Central Michigan Virtual has class sizes larger than 99% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Central Michigan Virtual ranks #4 of 5 schools in Jackson, MI.
School address
District: Jackson Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261962008719 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
5.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
80.4:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+359% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
80.8%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Central Michigan Virtual compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Central Michigan Virtual
South Central Michigan Virtual is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Jackson, Michigan, enrolling 402 students.
Class loads run heavy: 80.4:1 is larger than about 99% of Michigan schools and 359% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 80.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 402 students, its enrollment sits close to the Michigan median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 97% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 466 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #444, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and African American (22%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 402 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 78.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Jackson's public schools, it stands alongside Jackson Preparatory Early College (260 students): South Central Michigan Virtual is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (80.4:1 vs 21.7:1).
Jackson Public Schools also operates Jackson High School (989 students) and Middle School at Parkside (750 students) alongside South Central Michigan Virtual.
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 South Central Michigan Virtual compares
South Central Michigan Virtual on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 80.4:1 | ▲ 359% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.8% | ▲ 49% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 402 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
80.4:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
402
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
80.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
80.4:1
students per teacher
- 359% above state mean
Top 99% in Michigan - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
78.1%
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
$15,274
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 402 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 54 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
White 55.5%
African American 21.6%
Two or More 12.9%
Hispanic or Latino 8.5%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 55.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, South Central Michigan Virtual is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Jackson Public Schools, which includes South Central Michigan Virtual.
$15,274
Per student
+13%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.8%
State 49.8%
Federal 21.4%
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 South Central Michigan Virtual Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Middle School at Parkside | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cascades Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northeast Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hunt Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Central Michigan Virtual's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 750
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 398
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 366
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar other schools in Jackson
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Jackson Preparatory Early College
Standard public school
260 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Jackson Isd Local Based Special Education Programs
Special-education school
240 students 4:1 students per teacher
Northwest Connect
Alternative education program
157 students 39.3:1 students per teacher
Way East Jackson
Alternative education program
16 students
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~402 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Central Michigan Virtual's federal record.
- Compare South Central Michigan Virtual against another school. Compare schools
- Jackson Public Schools'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 South Central Michigan Virtual
How many students attend South Central Michigan Virtual?
South Central Michigan Virtual has 402 students enrolled. It is a public school in Jackson, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Central Michigan Virtual?
The student-teacher ratio at South Central Michigan Virtual is 80.4:1, which is 359% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 412% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Central Michigan Virtual?
80.8% of students at South Central Michigan Virtual are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Central Michigan Virtual?
The largest demographic group at South Central Michigan Virtual is White at 55.5% of enrollment, in Jackson, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Central Michigan Virtual?
South Central Michigan Virtual has a Resource Investment Index of 12/100 (lower 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 South Central Michigan Virtual rank among schools in Jackson?
By Resource Investment Index, South Central Michigan Virtual ranks #4 of 5 schools in Jackson, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Jackson on the city page.
Is South Central Michigan Virtual a good school?
South Central Michigan Virtual earns 12/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 Jackson Public Schools?
Besides South Central Michigan Virtual, Jackson Public Schools also operates Jackson High School (989 students), Middle School at Parkside (750 students), and Cascades Elementary School (398 students). See the Jackson Public Schools 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.