Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 53 schools in district

Baker Middle School

1215 Benning Dr, Columbus, GA 31903Muscogee County →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
588
Students
Total enrolled
$14,671
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
16.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 6% vs nat'l
33/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 33% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 588 students in grades 06–08 in Columbus, Georgia.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,671 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 33th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Baker Middle School is a large middle in Columbus, Georgia, serving grades 06–08 with 588 students. The district invests $14,671 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 97% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 33/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Baker Middle School

588
Total Students
16.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
97%
Free Lunch
36
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution294 male · 294 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility97%
National avg 52% · 568 students
Student Composition
18%
76%
White1%
Hispanic / Latino18%
Black76%
Multiracial4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 130387002420

Academic Outcomes at Baker Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
33
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 33th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 6th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 31903

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,671Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,671
State avg
$15,679
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,455
Student Support$2,787
Administration$1,761
Operations$2,201
Other$1,467
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,671 spent per student, an estimated $6,499 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
43%
39%
State government
43.0%
Local (property tax)
38.8%
Federal programs
18.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (33/100) — national median is 50
  • 97% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Mathews Elementary SchoolNorth Columbus ElementaryMidland AcademyEagle Ridge Academy
+10 more
↓
Middle
Richards Middle SchoolVeterans Memorial Middle SchoolArnold Middle SchoolBlackmon Road Middle School
+4 more
↓
High School
Northside High SchoolShaw High SchoolHardaway High SchoolColumbus High School
+4 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyMuscogee County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictMuscogee County →
Phone: (706)683-8721
NCES ID: 130387002420
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Columbus seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Muscogee County
High
Northside High School
1,402 students · 09–12
32% FRL
High
Shaw High School
1,234 students · 09–12
97% FRL
High
Hardaway High School
1,184 students · 09–12
● 45 opp97% FRL
High
Columbus High School
1,131 students · 09–12
● 45 opp18% FRL
High
Spencer High School
943 students · 09–12
● 33 opp97% FRL
High
Carver High School
916 students · 09–12
● 45 opp97% FRL
High
Kendrick High School
876 students · 09–12
● 36 opp97% FRL
High
Jordan Vocational High School
869 students · 09–12
● 40 opp97% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1215 Benning Dr, Columbus, GA 31903
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.