Enrollment
1,881
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Douglasville, GA
South Paulding High School
Federal NCES profile for South Paulding High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 130402003438
👥 S:T ratio 28
📚 AP courses 85
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Paulding High School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia.
- #1 of 5
- high schools in Douglasville · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 27.7%
- free-lunch eligible
South Paulding High School has class sizes larger than 91% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Paulding High School ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Douglasville, GA.
School address
District: Paulding County · Georgia
NCES ID 130402003438 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
104.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.1:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
27.7%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Paulding High School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Paulding High School
South Paulding High School is a large high school in Douglasville, Georgia, enrolling 1,881 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.1:1 is larger than about 91% of Georgia schools and 26% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 27.7% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Georgia, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,881 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 142 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #88.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and African American (27%) (diversity index 59/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 17 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 376 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 426 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,881 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 13 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Douglasville's high schools, it stands alongside Douglas County High School (1,958 students): South Paulding High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.1:1 vs 18.3:1).
Paulding County also operates North Paulding High School (3,015 students) and Paulding County High School (2,099 students) alongside South Paulding High School.
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 Paulding High School compares
South Paulding High School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.1:1 | ▲ 26% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.7% | ▼ 54% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,881 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,881
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
27.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 91% in Georgia - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.7%
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
$11,640
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 376 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
231
in-school suspensions + 195 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 13 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 57.0%
African American 26.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.6%
Two or More 4.9%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 57.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.0, South Paulding High School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paulding County, which includes South Paulding High School.
$11,640
Per student
-16%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.7%
State 51.2%
Federal 12.1%
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 Paulding High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Paulding High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paulding County High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Paulding High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hiram High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Floyd L. Shelton Elementary School at Crossroad | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Paulding High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,015
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,099
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,985
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,460
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,389
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar high schools in Douglasville
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Douglas County High School
Standard public school
1,958 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
New Manchester High School
Standard public school
1,894 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Alexander High School
Standard public school
1,830 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Chapel Hill High School
Standard public school
1,646 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,881 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Paulding High School's federal record.
- Compare South Paulding High School against another school. Compare schools
- Paulding 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 Paulding High School
How many students attend South Paulding High School?
South Paulding High School has 1,881 students enrolled. It is a high school in Douglasville, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Paulding High School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Paulding High School is 18.1:1, which is 26% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Paulding High School?
27.7% of students at South Paulding High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Paulding High School?
The largest demographic group at South Paulding High School is White at 57.0% of enrollment, in Douglasville, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Paulding High School?
South Paulding High School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Paulding High School rank among high schools in Douglasville?
By Resource Investment Index, South Paulding High School ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Douglasville, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Douglasville on the city page.
Is South Paulding High School a good school?
South Paulding High School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia. 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 Paulding County?
Besides South Paulding High School, Paulding County also operates North Paulding High School (3,015 students), Paulding County High School (2,099 students), and East Paulding High School (1,985 students). See the Paulding 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.