- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cowan, TN
South Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 470129000405
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Middle School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Tennessee median.
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.7:1
- students per teacher
- 361
- students enrolled
South Middle School has class sizes near the Tennessee median. Computed live against every Tennessee school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Franklin County · Tennessee
NCES ID 470129000405 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
South Middle School grew from 292 students in 2022-23 to 318 in 2023-24 (+8.9%).
Teacher FTE added 23.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+26 students YoY 470129000405 · Cowan, TN Middle · SMALL · TRAD
361 enr · 15.7:1 · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Franklin Co High School (1,144 students)
South Middle School grew from 292 students in 2022-23 to 318 in 2023-24 (+8.9%). Teacher FTE added 23.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Tennessee schools → · Find another →
South Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Franklin Co Hi
Franklin Co High School
1,144 students
- Huntland Schoo
Huntland School
631 students
- North Middle S
North Middle School
557 students
- Clark Memorial
Clark Memorial School
539 students
- Decherd Elemen 436
Decherd Elementary
436 students
- This school 361
South Middle School
361 students
What this shows South Middle School reports 361 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Middle School compares
South Middle School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Tennessee and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Tennessee | Tennessee avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 3% | 15.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 361 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
361
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 61% in Tennessee - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,602
per pupil, district-wide
- above Tennessee avg of $11,532
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 361 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
67
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 83.1%
African American 8.9%
Hispanic or Latino 4.4%
Two or More 3.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 83.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.8, South Middle School is less mixed than the Tennessee school average of 38.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Franklin County reports $11,602 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Co High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Huntland School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clark Memorial School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decherd Elementary | Similar size | No free-lunch data | 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
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 557
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 539
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
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 (~361 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about South Middle School
How many students attend South Middle School?
South Middle School has 361 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cowan, TN. CCD year-over-year: 292 (2022-23) → 318 (2023-24), up 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Middle School is 15.7:1, which is 3% higher than the Tennessee average of 15.3:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Middle School is White at 83.1% of enrollment, in Cowan, TN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Middle School?
South Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (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).
What other schools are in Franklin County?
Besides South Middle School, Franklin County also operates Franklin Co High School (1,144 students), Huntland School (631 students), and North Middle School (557 students). See the Franklin County district page for the complete list.