- Enrollment
- 1,213
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Somerset, KY
Southern Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Southern Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210495001572
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southern Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Kentucky schools.
- #12 of 14
- public schools in Somerset · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 64.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Southern Middle School has class sizes larger than 80% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Middle School ranks #12 of 14 public schools in Somerset, KY.
School address
District: Pulaski County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210495001572 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-110 students YoY
Southern Middle School shrank from 941 students in 2022-23 to 831 in 2023-24 (-11.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 50.0 → 43.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-110 students YoY 210495001572 · Somerset, KY Middle · MID · TRAD
871 enr · 17.4:1 · 64.4% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Southwestern High School (1,213 students)
Southern Middle School shrank from 941 students in 2022-23 to 831 in 2023-24 (-11.7%). Teacher FTE lost 50.0 → 43.0 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
- Southwestern H
Southwestern High School
1,213 students
- Pulaski County
Pulaski County High School
1,113 students
- This school
Southern Middle School
871 students
- Northern Middl
Northern Middle School
797 students
- Southern Eleme
Southern Elementary School
611 students
- Oak Hill Eleme
Oak Hill Elementary School
551 students
What this shows Southern Middle School reports 871 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southern Middle School compares
Southern Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 14% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.4% | ▲ 9% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 871 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
871
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 80% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.6%
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
$12,724
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $14,362
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 436 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
176
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Two or More 3.0%
Asian 2.6%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 87.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.8, Southern Middle School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pulaski County reports $12,724 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pulaski County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northern Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southern Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oak Hill Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar 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
- 1,113
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 611
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 551
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in Somerset
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~871 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Southern Middle School
How many students attend Southern Middle School?
Southern Middle School has 871 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Somerset, KY. CCD year-over-year: 941 (2022-23) → 831 (2023-24), down 110.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School is 17.4:1, which is 14% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southern Middle School?
64.4% 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 87.0% of enrollment, in Somerset, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southern Middle School?
Southern Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 public schools in Somerset?
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Middle School ranks #12 of 14 public schools in Somerset, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Somerset on the city page.
What other schools are in Pulaski County?
Besides Southern Middle School, Pulaski County also operates Southwestern High School (1,213 students), Pulaski County High School (1,113 students), and Northern Middle School (797 students). See the Pulaski County district page for the complete list.