Enrollment
1,161
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Guyton, GA
South Effingham Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Effingham Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130198001597
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Effingham Middle School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Georgia schools.
- #4 of 7
- public schools in Guyton · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.7:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 24.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South Effingham Middle School has class sizes larger than 73% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Effingham Middle School ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Guyton, GA.
School address
District: Effingham County · Georgia
NCES ID 130198001597 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
74.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.3%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-60% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Effingham Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Effingham Middle School
South Effingham Middle School is a large middle school in Guyton, Georgia, enrolling 1,161 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 24.3% free-meal eligibility runs 60% below the Georgia average.
Enrollment of 1,161 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 269 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #127.
Its student body is led by White (63%) and Hispanic or Latino (15%) (diversity index 56/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 581 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Discipline events run high: 294 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,161 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 Guyton's middle schools, it stands alongside Effingham County Middle School (1,150 students): South Effingham Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.7:1 vs 15.1:1).
Effingham County also operates Effingham County High School (2,199 students) and South Effingham High School (1,906 students) alongside South Effingham Middle School.
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 Effingham Middle School compares
South Effingham Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 9% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.3% | ▼ 60% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,161 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,161
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
24.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 73% in Georgia - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,725
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 581 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
208
in-school suspensions + 86 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.3 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
White 63.1%
Hispanic or Latino 14.9%
African American 12.9%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 63.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.9, South Effingham Middle School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Effingham County, which includes South Effingham Middle School.
$11,725
Per student
-15%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.1%
State 52.1%
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 South Effingham Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Effingham High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Effingham County Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ebenezer Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rincon Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Effingham Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,199
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,906
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,150
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,039
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,033
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in Guyton
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,161 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Effingham Middle School's federal record.
- Compare South Effingham Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Effingham County'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 Effingham Middle School
How many students attend South Effingham Middle School?
South Effingham Middle School has 1,161 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Guyton, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Effingham Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Effingham Middle School is 15.7:1, which is 9% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Effingham Middle School?
24.3% of students at South Effingham Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Effingham Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Effingham Middle School is White at 63.1% of enrollment, in Guyton, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Effingham Middle School?
South Effingham Middle School 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 South Effingham Middle School rank among public schools in Guyton?
By Resource Investment Index, South Effingham Middle School ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Guyton, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Guyton on the city page.
Is South Effingham Middle School a good school?
South Effingham Middle School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Georgia 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 Effingham County?
Besides South Effingham Middle School, Effingham County also operates Effingham County High School (2,199 students), South Effingham High School (1,906 students), and Effingham County Middle School (1,150 students). See the Effingham County 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.