Enrollment
379
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Pontotoc, MS
South Pontotoc Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Pontotoc Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280366001011
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Pontotoc Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median.
- #3 of 7
- public schools in Pontotoc · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- students per teacher
- 66.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South Pontotoc Middle School has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Pontotoc Middle School ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Pontotoc, MS.
School address
District: Pontotoc Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280366001011 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.3%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-18% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Pontotoc Middle School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Pontotoc Middle School
South Pontotoc Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Pontotoc, Mississippi, enrolling 379 students.
At 13.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Mississippi median, within a few percentage points of the 13.3:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 66.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 379 students, its enrollment sits close to the Mississippi median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Against 134 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #51.
Its student body is led by White (80%) and Hispanic or Latino (11%) (diversity index 35/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 379 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.7% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Pontotoc Co School Dist spends $9,404 per pupil, 22% below the Mississippi average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 24.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Pontotoc's middle schools, it stands alongside Pontotoc Junior High School (361 students): South Pontotoc Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.5:1 vs 12.4:1).
Pontotoc Co School Dist also operates South Pontotoc Elementary School (776 students) and North Pontotoc Elementary School (762 students) alongside South Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc Middle School compares
South Pontotoc Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▲ 2% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.3% | ▼ 18% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 379 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
379
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 55% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.7%
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
$9,404
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
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 379 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
27
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 79.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
African American 6.3%
Two or More 2.6%
Largest group: White at 79.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.7, South Pontotoc Middle School is less mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Pontotoc Co School Dist, which includes South Pontotoc Middle School.
$9,404
Per student
-22%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-43%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 19.6%
State 56.1%
Federal 24.4%
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 Pontotoc Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Pontotoc Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Pontotoc Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Pontotoc High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Pontotoc High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Pontotoc Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Pontotoc Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 776
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 762
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 488
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 455
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 308
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar middle schools in Pontotoc
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~379 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Pontotoc Middle School's federal record.
- Compare South Pontotoc Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Pontotoc Co School Dist'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 Pontotoc Middle School
How many students attend South Pontotoc Middle School?
South Pontotoc Middle School has 379 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Pontotoc, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Pontotoc Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Pontotoc Middle School is 13.5:1, which is 2% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Pontotoc Middle School?
66.3% of students at South Pontotoc Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Pontotoc Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Pontotoc Middle School is White at 79.7% of enrollment, in Pontotoc, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Pontotoc Middle School?
South Pontotoc Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Pontotoc Middle School rank among public schools in Pontotoc?
By Resource Investment Index, South Pontotoc Middle School ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Pontotoc, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Pontotoc on the city page.
Is South Pontotoc Middle School a good school?
South Pontotoc Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi 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 Pontotoc Co School Dist?
Besides South Pontotoc Middle School, Pontotoc Co School Dist also operates South Pontotoc Elementary School (776 students), North Pontotoc Elementary School (762 students), and North Pontotoc High School (488 students). See the Pontotoc Co School Dist 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.