Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 24 schools in district

River Oaks Middle

8642 River Oaks Drive, North Charleston, SC 29420Dorchester 02 →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
849
Students
Total enrolled
$13,014
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 9% vs nat'l
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 6% vs nat'l
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 28% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 849 students in grades 06–08 in North Charleston, South Carolina.
9% below average funding
District spends $13,014 per pupil, 9% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

River Oaks Middle is a large middle in North Charleston, South Carolina, serving grades 06–08 with 849 students. The district invests $13,014 per student — 9% below the national average of $14,347, with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 84% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at River Oaks Middle

849
Total Students
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
84%
Free Lunch
59
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 Distribution463 male · 386 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility84%
National avg 52% · 717 students
Student Composition
24%
20%
46%
Asian2%
White24%
Hispanic / Latino20%
Black46%
Multiracial7%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 450201001489

Academic Outcomes at River Oaks Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 13th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 29420

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,014Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,014
State avg
$17,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,726
Student Support$2,473
Administration$1,562
Operations$1,952
Other$1,301
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,014 spent per student, an estimated $5,765 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
54%
32%
State government
53.8%
Local (property tax)
32.4%
Federal programs
13.8%
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 (36/100) — national median is 50
  • 84% 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
Sand Hill ElementaryBeech Hill ElementaryWilliam M. Reeves ElementaryFort Dorchester Elementary
+11 more
↓
Middle
Oakbrook MiddleCharles B. DuBose MiddleGregg MiddleAlston Middle
+1 more
↓
High School
Summerville HighAshley Ridge HighFort Dorchester High
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyDorchester County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictDorchester 02 →
Phone: (843)695-2470
NCES ID: 450201001489
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in North Charleston 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 Dorchester 02
High
Summerville High
3,308 students · 09–12
● 33 opp59% FRL
High
Ashley Ridge High
2,542 students · 09–12
● 40 opp50% FRL
High
Fort Dorchester High
2,312 students · 09–12
● 36 opp63% FRL
Elem
Sand Hill Elementary
1,133 students · PK–05
● 40 opp42% FRL
Elem
Beech Hill Elementary
1,101 students · PK–05
● 40 opp34% FRL
Mid
Oakbrook Middle
1,006 students · 06–08
● 36 opp67% FRL
Mid
Charles B. DuBose Middle
950 students · 06–08
● 33 opp62% FRL
Elem
William M. Reeves Elementary
914 students · PK–05
● 33 opp62% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
8642 River Oaks Drive, North Charleston, SC 29420
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.