- Enrollment
- 905
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sandersville, GA
T. J. Elder Middle School
Federal NCES profile for T. J. Elder Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130549002289
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
T. J. Elder Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of Georgia schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Sandersville · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.1:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 77.5%
- free-lunch eligible
T. J. Elder Middle School has class sizes smaller than 80% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, T. J. Elder Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Sandersville, GA.
School address
District: Washington County · Georgia
NCES ID 130549002289 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-49 students YoY
T. J. Elder Middle School shrank from 662 students in 2022-23 to 613 in 2023-24 (-7.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 48.8 → 45.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-49 students YoY 130549002289 · Sandersville, GA Middle · MID · TRAD
583 enr · 12.1:1 · 77.5% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Washington County High School (905 students)
T. J. Elder Middle School shrank from 662 students in 2022-23 to 613 in 2023-24 (-7.4%). Teacher FTE lost 48.8 → 45.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
T. J. Elder Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Washington Cou
Washington County High School
905 students
- Ridge Road Pri
Ridge Road Primary School
588 students
- Ridge Road Ele
Ridge Road Elementary School
585 students
- This school
T. J. Elder Middle School
583 students
What this shows T. J. Elder Middle School reports 583 students on the CCD universe file.
How T. J. Elder Middle School compares
T. J. Elder Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.1:1 | ▼ 16% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.5% | ▲ 28% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 583 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
583
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 20% in Georgia - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.8%
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
$14,361
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $14,615
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 583 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
155
in-school suspensions + 110 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 45.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 17 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 70.0%
White 23.0%
Two or More 4.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.4%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 70.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.5, T. J. Elder Middle School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Washington County reports $14,361 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How T. J. Elder Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge Road Primary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ridge Road Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to T. J. Elder Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 585
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
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 (~583 students)
Frequently asked questions about T. J. Elder Middle School
How many students attend T. J. Elder Middle School?
T. J. Elder Middle School has 583 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sandersville, GA. CCD year-over-year: 662 (2022-23) → 613 (2023-24), down 49.
What is the student-teacher ratio at T. J. Elder Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at T. J. Elder Middle School is 12.1:1, which is 16% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 23% 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 T. J. Elder Middle School?
77.5% of students at T. J. Elder Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of T. J. Elder Middle School?
The largest demographic group at T. J. Elder Middle School is African American at 70.0% of enrollment, in Sandersville, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for T. J. Elder Middle School?
T. J. Elder Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 T. J. Elder Middle School rank among public schools in Sandersville?
By Resource Investment Index, T. J. Elder Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Sandersville, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Washington County?
Besides T. J. Elder Middle School, Washington County also operates Washington County High School (905 students), Ridge Road Primary School (588 students), and Ridge Road Elementary School (585 students). See the Washington County district page for the complete list.