Enrollment
507
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Dallas, GA
South Paulding Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Paulding Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130402002187
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Paulding Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #6 of 7
- middle schools in Dallas · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 39.9%
- free-lunch eligible
South Paulding Middle School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Paulding Middle School ranks #6 of 7 middle schools in Dallas, GA.
School address
District: Paulding County · Georgia
NCES ID 130402002187 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.9%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Paulding Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Paulding Middle School
South Paulding Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in Dallas, Georgia, enrolling 507 students.
At 14.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Georgia median, within a few percentage points of the 14.4:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 39.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 507 puts it in the smaller third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 315 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #293, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and African American (23%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 507 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 247 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 507 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 8 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Dallas's middle schools, it stands alongside Lena Mae Moses Middle School (921 students): South Paulding Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.1:1 vs 16.2:1).
Paulding County also operates North Paulding High School (3,015 students) and Paulding County High School (2,099 students) alongside South Paulding Middle 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 Middle School compares
South Paulding Middle 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 | 14.1:1 | ▼ 2% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.9% | ▼ 34% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 507 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
507
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
39.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 51% in Georgia - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.9%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 507 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
144
in-school suspensions + 103 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 28.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 48.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 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 57.8%
African American 23.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 57.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.2, South Paulding Middle School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paulding County, which includes South Paulding Middle 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 Middle 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 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Paulding High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Paulding High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hiram High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Paulding Middle 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
- 1,881
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,460
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in Dallas
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Lena Mae Moses Middle School
Standard public school
921 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Sammy Mcclure Sr. Middle School
Standard public school
834 students 10:1 students per teacher
Carl Scoggins Sr. Middle School
Standard public school
809 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Herschel Jones Middle School
Standard public school
728 students 14:1 students per teacher
P. B. Ritch Middle School
Standard public school
690 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
East Paulding Middle School
Standard public school
630 students 10.9:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~507 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Paulding Middle School's federal record.
- Compare South Paulding Middle 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 Middle School
How many students attend South Paulding Middle School?
South Paulding Middle School has 507 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Dallas, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Paulding Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Paulding Middle School is 14.1:1, which is 2% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 10% 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 Paulding Middle School?
39.9% of students at South Paulding Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Paulding Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Paulding Middle School is White at 57.8% of enrollment, in Dallas, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Paulding Middle School?
South Paulding Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Paulding Middle School rank among middle schools in Dallas?
By Resource Investment Index, South Paulding Middle School ranks #6 of 7 middle schools in Dallas, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Dallas on the city page.
Is South Paulding Middle School a good school?
South Paulding Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia 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 Paulding County?
Besides South Paulding Middle 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.