- Enrollment
- 1,190
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Forks, ND
South Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 380813000264
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Grand Forks · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10:1
- students per teacher
- 24.2%
- free-lunch eligible
South Middle School has class sizes near the North Dakota median. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Grand Forks, ND.
School address
District: Grand Forks 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380813000264 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
South Middle School held near 552 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 55.0 → 53.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 380813000264 · Grand Forks, ND Middle · MID · TRAD
549 enr · 10:1 · 24.2% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Red River High School (1,190 students)
South Middle School held near 552 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 55.0 → 53.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
South Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Red River High
Red River High School
1,190 students
- Central High S
Central High School
1,115 students
- Schroeder Midd
Schroeder Middle School
569 students
- Discovery Elem
Discovery Elementary School
567 students
- This school
South Middle School
549 students
- Valley Middle
Valley Middle School
508 students
What this shows South Middle School reports 549 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Middle School compares
South Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10:1 | ▼ 15% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.2% | ▼ 14% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 549 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
549
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% below the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 36% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.2%
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
$15,253
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $19,475
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.1 FTE
Per 523 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.5%
Two or More 11.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
African American 10.7%
Asian 6.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.5%
Largest group: White at 56.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.8, South Middle School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Grand Forks 1 reports $15,253 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red River High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Schroeder Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Discovery Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valley Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,115
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 567
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 508
- Students per teacher
- 9.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar middle schools in Grand Forks
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~549 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10:1)
Frequently asked questions about South Middle School
How many students attend South Middle School?
South Middle School has 549 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Forks, ND. CCD year-over-year: 549 (2022-23) → 552 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Middle School is 10:1, which is 15% lower than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 36% 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 Middle School?
24.2% of students at South Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Middle School is White at 56.5% of enrollment, in Grand Forks, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Middle School?
South Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Middle School rank among middle schools in Grand Forks?
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Grand Forks, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Grand Forks on the city page.
What other schools are in Grand Forks 1?
Besides South Middle School, Grand Forks 1 also operates Red River High School (1,190 students), Central High School (1,115 students), and Schroeder Middle School (569 students). See the Grand Forks 1 district page for the complete list.