- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbia, SC
W. a. Perry Middle
Federal NCES profile for W. a. Perry Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450336000946
👥 S:T ratio 62
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 68
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W. a. Perry Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of South Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #6 of 11
- middle schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.4:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
W. a. Perry Middle has class sizes smaller than 94% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W. a. Perry Middle ranks #6 of 11 middle schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000946 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
W. a. Perry Middle held near 310 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 34.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 450336000946 · Columbia, SC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
320 enr · 9.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
W. a. Perry Middle held near 310 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 34.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
W. a. Perry Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school 320
W. a. Perry Middle
320 students
What this shows W. a. Perry Middle reports 320 students on the CCD universe file.
How W. a. Perry Middle compares
W. a. Perry 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 | 9.4:1 | ▼ 34% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 320 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.4:1
Leaner classes than 91% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
320
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.4:1
students per teacher
- 34% below state mean
Top 6% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
62.8%
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
$18,992
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 160 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
81
in-school suspensions + 142 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 25.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 69.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 90.3%
Two or More 5.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
White 0.6%
Largest group: African American at 90.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.0, W. a. Perry Middle is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How W. a. Perry Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W. a. Perry Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Columbia
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Dent Middle
Standard public school
1,059 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Irmo Middle
Standard public school
992 students 11:1 students per teacher
Crayton Middle
Standard public school
952 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Longleaf Middle
Standard public school
796 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Hand Middle
Standard public school
755 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
St. Andrews Middle
Standard public school
627 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~320 students)
Frequently asked questions about W. a. Perry Middle
How many students attend W. a. Perry Middle?
W. a. Perry Middle has 320 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 309 (2022-23) → 310 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at W. a. Perry Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at W. a. Perry Middle is 9.4:1, which is 34% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 40% 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 W. a. Perry Middle?
100.0% of students at W. a. Perry Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W. a. Perry Middle?
The largest demographic group at W. a. Perry Middle is African American at 90.3% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W. a. Perry Middle?
W. a. Perry Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 W. a. Perry Middle rank among middle schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, W. a. Perry Middle ranks #6 of 11 middle schools in Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 01?
Besides W. a. Perry Middle, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.