- Enrollment
- 2,370
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lexington, KY
Southern Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Southern Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210186000394
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southern Middle School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #8 of 11
- middle schools in Lexington · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 52.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Southern Middle School has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Middle School ranks #8 of 11 middle schools in Lexington, KY.
School address
District: Fayette County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210186000394 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Southern Middle School held near 764 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 55.7 → 56.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 210186000394 · Lexington, KY Middle · MID · TRAD
759 enr · 13.8:1 · 52.5% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Lafayette High School (2,370 students)
Southern Middle School held near 764 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 55.7 → 56.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Southern Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lafayette High
Lafayette High School
2,370 students
- Bryan Station
Bryan Station High School
2,030 students
- Henry Clay Hig
Henry Clay High School
1,939 students
- Paul Laurence
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
1,828 students
- Frederick Doug
Frederick Douglass High School
1,770 students
- This school 759
Southern Middle School
759 students
What this shows Southern Middle School reports 759 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southern Middle School compares
Southern Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 9% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.5% | ▼ 11% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 759 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
759
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 33% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.0%
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
$18,318
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 304 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
120
in-school suspensions + 93 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 47.6%
African American 24.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.7%
Two or More 6.6%
Asian 4.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 47.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.1, Southern Middle School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
District finance for Fayette County reports $18,318 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southern Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bryan Station High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henry Clay High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paul Laurence Dunbar High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frederick Douglass High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southern Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,939
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,828
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,770
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar middle schools in Lexington
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School
Standard public school
1,125 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Leestown Middle School
Standard public school
1,084 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Jessie M Clark Middle School
Standard public school
1,002 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Winburn Middle School
Standard public school
768 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Tates Creek Middle School
Standard public school
767 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Bryan Station Middle School
Standard public school
744 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
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 (~759 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southern Middle School
How many students attend Southern Middle School?
Southern Middle School has 759 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lexington, KY. CCD year-over-year: 772 (2022-23) → 764 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School is 13.8:1, which is 9% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 12% 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 Southern Middle School?
52.5% of students at Southern Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southern Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Southern Middle School is White at 47.6% of enrollment, in Lexington, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southern Middle School?
Southern Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Southern Middle School rank among middle schools in Lexington?
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Middle School ranks #8 of 11 middle schools in Lexington, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Lexington on the city page.
What other schools are in Fayette County?
Besides Southern Middle School, Fayette County also operates Lafayette High School (2,370 students), Bryan Station High School (2,030 students), and Henry Clay High School (1,939 students). See the Fayette County district page for the complete list.