- Enrollment
- 1,201
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
South Marshall Middle held near 457 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 29.0 → 29.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 210381002428 · Benton, KY Middle · SMALL · TRAD
432 enr · 14.9:1 · 52.4% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Marshall County High School (1,201 students)
South Marshall Middle held near 457 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE held 29.0 → 29.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
South Marshall Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Marshall Count
Marshall County High School
1,201 students
- Benton Element
Benton Elementary School
528 students
- North Marshall
North Marshall Middle School
487 students
- Central Elemen 480
Central Elementary School
480 students
- This school 432
South Marshall Middle
432 students
- Calvert City E 294
Calvert City Elementary School
294 students
What this shows South Marshall Middle reports 432 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Marshall Middle compares
South Marshall Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$14,559
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints 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.
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
District finance for Marshall County reports $14,559 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
Nationwide middle 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 (~432 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 462 (2022-23) → 457 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.