Enrollment
681
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbus, GA
Veterans Memorial Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Veterans Memorial Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 130387003680
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Veterans Memorial Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Georgia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #6 of 10
- middle schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 37.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Veterans Memorial Middle School has class sizes larger than 90% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Veterans Memorial Middle School ranks #6 of 10 middle schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387003680 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.9:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
37.8%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-38% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Veterans Memorial Middle School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Veterans Memorial Middle School
Veterans Memorial Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in Columbus, Georgia, enrolling 681 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.9:1 is larger than about 90% of Georgia schools and 24% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 37.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 681 students, its enrollment sits close to the Georgia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 429 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #352, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (36%) and African American (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 681 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights 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: 220 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 681 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Columbus's middle schools, it stands alongside Richards Middle School (799 students): Veterans Memorial Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.9:1 vs 17.4:1).
Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students) and Shaw High School (1,162 students) alongside Veterans Memorial 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 Veterans Memorial Middle School compares
Veterans Memorial Middle 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 | 17.9:1 | ▲ 24% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.8% | ▼ 38% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 681 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
681
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
37.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 90% in Georgia - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
20.6%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 681 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
116
in-school suspensions + 104 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 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
White 35.7%
African American 32.9%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 6.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 35.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.6, Veterans Memorial Middle School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Muscogee County, which includes Veterans Memorial Middle 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 Veterans Memorial Middle 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 | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbus High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hardaway High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Vocational High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Veterans Memorial Middle 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 middle schools in Columbus
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Richards Middle School
Standard public school
799 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Baker Middle School
Standard public school
631 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Arnold Middle School
Standard public school
582 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Rothschild Leadership Academy School
Standard public school
498 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Blackmon Road Middle School
Standard public school
478 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Eddy Middle School
Standard public school
448 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~681 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Veterans Memorial Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Veterans Memorial Middle 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 Veterans Memorial Middle School
How many students attend Veterans Memorial Middle School?
Veterans Memorial Middle School has 681 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbus, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Veterans Memorial Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Veterans Memorial Middle School is 17.9:1, which is 24% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Veterans Memorial Middle School?
37.8% of students at Veterans Memorial Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Veterans Memorial Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Veterans Memorial Middle School is White at 35.7% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Veterans Memorial Middle School?
Veterans Memorial Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Veterans Memorial Middle School rank among middle schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Veterans Memorial Middle School ranks #6 of 10 middle 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 middle schools in Columbus on the city page.
Is Veterans Memorial Middle School a good school?
Veterans Memorial Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Georgia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Veterans Memorial Middle 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.