- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Mt. Pleasant, SC
Thomas C. Cario Middle
Federal NCES profile for Thomas C. Cario Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450144000430
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas C. Cario Middle earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 11
- public schools in Mt. Pleasant · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.5:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 13.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas C. Cario Middle has class sizes larger than 88% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas C. Cario Middle ranks #2 of 11 public schools in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
School address
District: Charleston 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450144000430 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Thomas C. Cario Middle held near 1,130 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 63.0 → 62.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 450144000430 · Mt. Pleasant, SC Middle · MID · TRAD
1,105 enr · 17.5:1 · 13.9% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Wando High (2,588 students)
Thomas C. Cario Middle held near 1,130 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 63.0 → 62.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Thomas C. Cario Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Wando High
Wando High
2,588 students
- Rb Stall High
Rb Stall High
2,135 students
- West Ashley Hi
West Ashley High
2,069 students
- Lucy Garrett B
Lucy Garrett Beckham High
1,757 students
- James Island C
James Island Charter High
1,612 students
- This school
Thomas C. Cario Middle
1,105 students
What this shows Thomas C. Cario Middle reports 1,105 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas C. Cario Middle compares
Thomas C. Cario Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.5:1 | ▲ 22% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.9% | ▼ 81% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,105 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,105
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 81% below the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 88% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$16,635
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.9 FTE
Per 226 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
109
in-school suspensions + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 83.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.4%
African American 4.3%
Two or More 3.7%
Asian 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 83.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.8, Thomas C. Cario Middle is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Charleston 01 reports $16,635 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas C. Cario Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wando High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rb Stall High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Ashley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lucy Garrett Beckham High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| James Island Charter High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas C. Cario Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,135
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,069
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,757
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 (~1,105 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas C. Cario Middle
How many students attend Thomas C. Cario Middle?
Thomas C. Cario Middle has 1,105 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Mt. Pleasant, SC. CCD year-over-year: 1,125 (2022-23) → 1,130 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas C. Cario Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas C. Cario Middle is 17.5:1, which is 22% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thomas C. Cario Middle?
13.9% of students at Thomas C. Cario Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas C. Cario Middle?
The largest demographic group at Thomas C. Cario Middle is White at 83.3% of enrollment, in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas C. Cario Middle?
Thomas C. Cario Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 Thomas C. Cario Middle rank among public schools in Mt. Pleasant?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas C. Cario Middle ranks #2 of 11 public schools in Mt. Pleasant, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Mt. Pleasant on the city page.
What other schools are in Charleston 01?
Besides Thomas C. Cario Middle, Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students), Rb Stall High (2,135 students), and West Ashley High (2,069 students). See the Charleston 01 district page for the complete list.