- Enrollment
- 887
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Pinckard, AL
South Dale Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Dale Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010105000393
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Dale Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- students per teacher
- 74.4%
- free-lunch eligible
- 412
- students enrolled
South Dale Middle School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
South Dale Middle School held near 410 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 21.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 010105000393 · Pinckard, AL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
412 enr · 17.9:1 · 74.4% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Ariton School (887 students)
South Dale Middle School held near 410 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 21.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
South Dale Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ariton School
Ariton School
887 students
- Gw Long Elemen
Gw Long Elementary School
492 students
- Midland City E
Midland City Elementary School
478 students
- Dale County Hi
Dale County High School
437 students
- This school
South Dale Middle School
412 students
- George W Long
George W Long High School
377 students
What this shows South Dale Middle School reports 412 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Dale Middle School compares
South Dale Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.9:1 | ▲ 1% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.4% | ▲ 27% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 412 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
412
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
74.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 58% in Alabama - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.2%
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
$12,213
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 412 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
28
in-school suspensions + 53 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 51.9%
African American 33.7%
Two or More 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.1%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 51.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.9, South Dale Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dale County reports $12,213 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Dale Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ariton School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gw Long Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Midland City Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dale County High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| George W Long High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Dale Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 478
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 437
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~412 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Dale Middle School
How many students attend South Dale Middle School?
South Dale Middle School has 412 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Pinckard, AL. CCD year-over-year: 426 (2022-23) → 410 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Dale Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Dale Middle School is 17.9:1, which is 1% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Dale Middle School?
74.4% of students at South Dale Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Dale Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Dale Middle School is White at 51.9% of enrollment, in Pinckard, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Dale Middle School?
South Dale Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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).
What other schools are in Dale County?
Besides South Dale Middle School, Dale County also operates Ariton School (887 students), Gw Long Elementary School (492 students), and Midland City Elementary School (478 students). See the Dale County district page for the complete list.