Enrollment
871
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
50.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.4:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.4%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+9% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Southern Middle School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Southern Middle School
Southern Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Somerset, Kentucky, enrolling 871 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 64.4% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kentucky, bigger than 91% of state schools at 871 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 256 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #214, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (87% of enrollment) (diversity index 24/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 436 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 188 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 871 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Somerset's middle schools, it stands alongside Northern Middle School (797 students): Southern Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.4:1 vs 16.3:1).
Pulaski County also operates Southwestern High School (1,213 students) and Pulaski County High School (1,113 students) alongside Southern 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 Southern Middle School compares
Southern Middle School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$11,722
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Pulaski County, which includes Southern Middle School.
$11,722
Per student
-11%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.0%
State 56.3%
Federal 17.7%
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 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
- 1,213
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- 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.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~871 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Southern Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Southern Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Pulaski 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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Southern Middle School a good school?
Southern Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Kentucky schools. 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 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.
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.