Enrollment
432
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Benton, KY
South Marshall Middle
Federal NCES profile for South Marshall Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210381002428
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Marshall Middle earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median.
- #4 of 9
- public schools in Benton · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 52.4%
- free-lunch eligible
South Marshall Middle has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Marshall Middle ranks #4 of 9 public schools in Benton, KY.
School address
District: Marshall County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210381002428 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.9:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.4%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
-11% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Marshall Middle compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Marshall Middle
South Marshall Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Benton, Kentucky, enrolling 432 students.
At 14.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Kentucky median, within a few percentage points of the 15.2:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 52.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 432 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kentucky median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 441 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #39, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (91% of enrollment) (diversity index 16/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 216 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 16.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Marshall County also operates Marshall County High School (1,201 students) and Benton Elementary School (528 students) alongside South Marshall Middle.
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 Marshall Middle compares
South Marshall Middle on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▼ 2% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.4% | ▼ 11% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 432 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
432
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,197
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
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 216 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
74
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.1 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.
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 91.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.5%
Two or More 1.4%
Asian 0.5%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: White at 91.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.0, South Marshall Middle is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Marshall County, which includes South Marshall Middle.
$12,197
Per student
-8%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.6%
State 49.4%
Federal 16.1%
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 Marshall Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benton Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Marshall Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Calvert City Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Marshall Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,201
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 480
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 294
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~432 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Marshall Middle's federal record.
- Compare South Marshall Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Marshall 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 Marshall Middle
How many students attend South Marshall Middle?
South Marshall Middle has 432 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Benton, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Marshall Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at South Marshall Middle is 14.9:1, which is 2% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Marshall Middle?
52.4% of students at South Marshall Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Marshall Middle?
The largest demographic group at South Marshall Middle is White at 91.4% of enrollment, in Benton, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Marshall Middle?
South Marshall Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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 Marshall Middle rank among public schools in Benton?
By Resource Investment Index, South Marshall Middle ranks #4 of 9 public schools in Benton, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Benton on the city page.
Is South Marshall Middle a good school?
South Marshall Middle earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. 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 Marshall County?
Besides South Marshall Middle, Marshall County also operates Marshall County High School (1,201 students), Benton Elementary School (528 students), and North Marshall Middle School (487 students). See the Marshall 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.