- Enrollment
- 497
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Union Springs, AL
South Highlands Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Highlands Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010048000221
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 81
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Highlands Middle School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Union Springs · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.2:1
- students per teacher
- 78.1%
- free-lunch eligible
South Highlands Middle School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Highlands Middle School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Union Springs, AL.
School address
District: Bullock County · Alabama
NCES ID 010048000221 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-41 students YoY
South Highlands Middle School shrank from 424 students in 2022-23 to 383 in 2023-24 (-9.7%).
Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-41 students YoY 010048000221 · Union Springs, AL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
382 enr · 18.2:1 · 78.1% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Union Springs Elementary School (497 students)
South Highlands Middle School shrank from 424 students in 2022-23 to 383 in 2023-24 (-9.7%). Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
South Highlands Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Union Springs
Union Springs Elementary School
497 students
- Bullock County
Bullock County High School
448 students
- This school
South Highlands Middle School
382 students
What this shows South Highlands Middle School reports 382 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Highlands Middle School compares
South Highlands Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.2:1 | ▲ 3% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.1% | ▲ 33% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 382 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
382
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% 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
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 63% in Alabama - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
7.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$15,226
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 382 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 78.0%
Hispanic or Latino 21.2%
White 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 78.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.7, South Highlands Middle School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
District finance for Bullock County reports $15,226 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Highlands Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Springs Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bullock County High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Highlands Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 448
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
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 (~382 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Highlands Middle School
How many students attend South Highlands Middle School?
South Highlands Middle School has 382 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Union Springs, AL. CCD year-over-year: 424 (2022-23) → 383 (2023-24), down 41.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Highlands Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Highlands Middle School is 18.2:1, which is 3% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 16% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Highlands Middle School?
78.1% of students at South Highlands Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Highlands Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Highlands Middle School is African American at 78.0% of enrollment, in Union Springs, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Highlands Middle School?
South Highlands Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 South Highlands Middle School rank among public schools in Union Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, South Highlands Middle School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Union Springs, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Bullock County?
Besides South Highlands Middle School, Bullock County also operates Union Springs Elementary School (497 students) and Bullock County High School (448 students). See the Bullock County district page for the complete list.