Enrollment
1,016
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbus, GA
Spencer High School
Federal NCES profile for Spencer High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 130387001418
👥 S:T ratio 26
📚 AP courses 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Spencer High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia schools.
- #8 of 8
- high schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.5:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 96.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Spencer High School has class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Spencer High School ranks #8 of 8 high schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387001418 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
55.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.5:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
96.6%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+59% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Spencer High School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Spencer High School
Spencer High School is a high-poverty, mid-sized high school in Columbus, Georgia, enrolling 1,016 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.5:1 is larger than about 93% of Georgia schools and 28% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 96.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 1,016 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 280 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #212, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (72%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%) (diversity index 44/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 10 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 339 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 53.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 495 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,016 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 17 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Columbus's high schools, it stands alongside Northside High School (1,405 students): Spencer High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.5:1 vs 15.8:1).
Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students) and Shaw High School (1,162 students) alongside Spencer High 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 Spencer High School compares
Spencer High 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 | 18.5:1 | ▲ 28% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.6% | ▲ 59% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,016 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,016
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
96.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 93% in Georgia - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
53.6%
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
$12,762
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 339 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
206
in-school suspensions + 289 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 48.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 17 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
African American 71.7%
Hispanic or Latino 20.3%
Two or More 4.5%
White 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 71.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.2, Spencer High School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 10
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Muscogee County, which includes Spencer High School.
$12,762
Per student
-8%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.8%
State 43.0%
Federal 18.2%
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 Spencer High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shaw High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbus High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hardaway High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Vocational High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Spencer High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,162
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,040
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar high schools in Columbus
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Northside High School
Standard public school
1,405 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Shaw High School
Standard public school
1,162 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Columbus High School
Standard public school
1,161 students 19:1 students per teacher
Hardaway High School
Standard public school
1,067 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Jordan Vocational High School
Standard public school
1,040 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Carver High School
Standard public school
887 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~1,016 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Spencer High School's federal record.
- Compare Spencer High School against another school. Compare schools
- Muscogee 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 Spencer High School
How many students attend Spencer High School?
Spencer High School has 1,016 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbus, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spencer High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Spencer High School is 18.5:1, which is 28% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Spencer High School?
96.6% of students at Spencer High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Spencer High School?
The largest demographic group at Spencer High School is African American at 71.7% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Spencer High School?
Spencer High School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Spencer High School rank among high schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Spencer High School ranks #8 of 8 high schools in Columbus, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Columbus on the city page.
Is Spencer High School a good school?
Spencer High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia 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 Muscogee County?
Besides Spencer High School, Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students), Shaw High School (1,162 students), and Columbus High School (1,161 students). See the Muscogee 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.