Enrollment
2,634
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Cumming, GA
South Forsyth High School
Federal NCES profile for South Forsyth High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 130222001897
👥 S:T ratio 16
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Forsyth High School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Cumming · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 20.9:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 3.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Forsyth High School has class sizes larger than 98% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Forsyth High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Cumming, GA.
School address
District: Forsyth County · Georgia
NCES ID 130222001897 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
126.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.9:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+45% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
3.6%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-94% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Forsyth High School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Forsyth High School
South Forsyth High School is a lower-poverty, large high school in Cumming, Georgia, enrolling 2,634 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.9:1 is larger than about 98% of Georgia schools and 45% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 3.6% free-meal eligibility runs 94% below the Georgia average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Georgia, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,634 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 35 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #30, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (49%) and White (37%) (diversity index 62/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 30 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 439 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Forsyth County spends $10,928 per pupil, 21% below the Georgia average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Cumming's high schools, it stands alongside West Forsyth High School (2,503 students): South Forsyth High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.9:1 vs 20.3:1).
Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students) and Denmark High School (2,527 students) alongside South Forsyth High 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 Forsyth High School compares
South Forsyth High 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 | 20.9:1 | ▲ 45% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 3.6% | ▼ 94% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,634 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,634
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
3.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 94% 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
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 45% above state mean
Top 98% in Georgia - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
20.0%
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
$10,928
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
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 439 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 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
Asian 49.0%
White 36.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Two or More 3.7%
African American 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Asian at 49.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.8, South Forsyth High School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 30
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Forsyth County, which includes South Forsyth High School.
$10,928
Per student
-21%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.6%
State 38.4%
Federal 7.0%
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 Forsyth High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lambert High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Denmark High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Forsyth High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Forsyth Central High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Forsyth High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Forsyth High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,249
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,527
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,503
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,457
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,151
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Cumming
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
West Forsyth High School
Standard public school
2,503 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Forsyth Central High School
Standard public school
2,457 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
North Forsyth High School
Standard public school
2,151 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Alliance Academy for Innovation
Standard public school
1,145 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~2,634 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Forsyth High School's federal record.
- Compare South Forsyth High School against another school. Compare schools
- Forsyth 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 Forsyth High School
How many students attend South Forsyth High School?
South Forsyth High School has 2,634 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cumming, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Forsyth High School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Forsyth High School is 20.9:1, which is 45% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 33% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Forsyth High School?
3.6% of students at South Forsyth High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Forsyth High School?
The largest demographic group at South Forsyth High School is Asian at 49.0% of enrollment, in Cumming, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Forsyth High School?
South Forsyth High School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Forsyth High School rank among high schools in Cumming?
By Resource Investment Index, South Forsyth High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Cumming, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Cumming on the city page.
Is South Forsyth High School a good school?
South Forsyth High School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia. 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 Forsyth County?
Besides South Forsyth High School, Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students), Denmark High School (2,527 students), and West Forsyth High School (2,503 students). See the Forsyth 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.