A. R. Rucker Middle

Summary:

A. R. Rucker Middle is a public middle school located in Lancaster, South Carolina, serving 519 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Lancaster 01 school district, which is ranked 30 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

A. R. Rucker Middle faces significant challenges in improving academic performance, with consistently low rankings and test scores that are significantly below the state and district averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school has a diverse student population, with a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, and its performance is particularly low for African American, Hispanic, and low-socioeconomic status students. In comparison, nearby schools such as Indian Land Middle, Andrew Jackson Middle, and Buford Middle generally perform better academically, with higher proficiency rates on state assessments and higher SchoolDigger rankings.

However, A. R. Rucker Middle has performed relatively better for English Language Learner and disabled student subgroups, and the school has also excelled on the End-of-Course exam for Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2, with proficiency rates exceeding the district and state averages. These findings suggest that the school has the potential to improve its overall academic performance with targeted interventions and support to address the underlying factors contributing to the achievement gap.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 422 Old Dixie Road
       Lancaster, SC  29720


(803) 416-8555

District: Lancaster 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
267th of 325 South Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,017 Help


Students who attend A. R. Rucker Middle usually attend:

High:    Buford High

Feeder schools for A. R. Rucker Middle:

Elementary:    Buford Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  14.7 Help
Number of students:  519

Racial breakdown:

African American:
50.1%
White:
27.7%
Hispanic:
15.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated South Carolina middle schools

 Compare A. R. Rucker Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details A. R. Rucker Middle ranks worse than 82.2% of middle schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 4th among 5 ranked middle schools in the Lancaster 01 School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.59. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at A. R. Rucker Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (50.1%), White (27.7%), Hispanic (15.2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at A. R. Rucker Middle is 14.7, which is the 2nd best among 5 middle schools in the Lancaster 01 School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare A. R. Rucker Middle employs 35.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at A. R. Rucker Middle is $11,017, which is the 3rd highest among 5 middle schools in the Lancaster 01 School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

A. R. Rucker Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks A. R. Rucker Middle 267th of 325 South Carolina public middle schools. (See A. R. Rucker Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Lancaster 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster 01 30th of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for A. R. Rucker Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 28.86 173rd 225 23.1%
2004 19.68 202nd 230 12.2%
2005 36.51 162nd 230 29.6%
2006 37.06 159th 231 31.2%
2007 36.38 168th 236 28.8%
2008 36.58 176th 244 27.9%
2009 40.43 173rd 249 30.5%
2010 47.98 155th 261 40.6%
2011 35.97 193rd 269 28.3%
2012 29.02 219th 271 19.2%
2013 36.10 195th 276 29.3%
2014 37.29 196th 291 32.6%
2015 33.34 213th 301 29.2%
2016 39.61 197th 303 35.0%
2017 39.37 193rd 317 39.1%
2018 32.55 209th 303 31.0%
2019 29.48 226th 315 28.3%
2021 11.70 289th 311 7.1%
2022 14.89 268th 310 13.5%
2023 17.65 267th 325 17.8%
2024 18.59 267th 325 17.8%
See the entire list of South Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.19 19th 93 79.6%
2019 47.30 55th 117 53.0%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.03 174th 280 37.9%
2019 30.47 214th 289 26.0%
2021 9.00 283rd 288 1.7%
2022 14.02 283rd 300 5.7%
2023 18.05 269th 313 14.1%
2024 19.71 266th 307 13.4%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.50 187th 281 33.5%
2019 34.79 198th 296 33.1%
2021 11.24 261st 279 6.5%
2022 12.97 265th 290 8.6%
2023 14.10 264th 299 11.7%
2024 14.94 258th 294 12.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.95 68th 194 64.9%
2019 38.76 117th 195 40.0%
2022 22.23 160th 183 12.6%
2023 32.57 127th 187 32.1%
2024 44.11 81st 177 54.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 21.28 160th 182 12.1%
2024 37.66 142nd 183 22.4%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.06 205th 284 27.8%
2019 25.76 228th 296 23.0%
2021 12.11 255th 279 8.6%
2022 16.40 253rd 292 13.4%
2023 22.69 234th 303 22.8%
2024 22.35 229th 294 22.1%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.92 138th 237 41.8%
2019 37.53 154th 252 38.9%
2021 13.37 233rd 235 0.9%
2022 15.76 240th 249 3.6%
2023 17.09 237th 253 6.3%
2024 20.22 217th 248 12.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 64.70 37th 123 69.9%
2019 44.61 81st 139 41.7%
2022 20.93 111th 129 14.0%
2023 25.52 111th 141 21.3%
2024 17.19 128th 144 11.1%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at A. R. Rucker Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.61 152nd 250 39.2%
2019 36.58 160th 258 38.0%
2021 16.48 209th 244 14.3%
2022 18.61 208th 249 16.5%
2023 24.73 206th 260 20.8%
2024 23.11 203rd 255 20.4%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

A. R. Rucker Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: South Carolina State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a teacher
Saturday, November 18, 2017

Open Quote This school has poor support for it's teachers. Most of the teachers are highly qualified and educated, but the administration rarely trusts their judgement, including teachers who have been recognized by the district as teacher of the year. The administration too often want to please the parents because it fears lawsuits that it loses the trust and faith from the teachers. Close Quote



Enrollment information for A. R. Rucker Middle

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 451 355 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 806
1989 477 351 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 828
1990 468 332 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 800
1991 453 314 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 767
1992 454 313 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 767
1993 479 359 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 839
1994 435 385 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 820
1995 377 347 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 726
1996 377 347 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 726
1997 345 333 6 3 0 n/a n/a 0 687
1998 370 330 5 1 0 n/a n/a 0 706
1999 370 344 4 1 3 n/a n/a 0 722
2000 371 371 3 3 1 n/a n/a 0 749
2001 354 404 1 3 1 n/a n/a 0 763
2002 271 403 4 2 0 n/a n/a 0 680
2003 271 403 4 2 0 n/a n/a 0 680
2004 284 409 10 4 0 n/a n/a 0 707
2005 290 349 6 3 0 n/a n/a 0 648
2006 262 297 6 7 0 n/a n/a 0 572
2007 226 288 6 12 0 n/a n/a 0 532
2008 217 273 7 14 1 n/a n/a 0 512
2009 215 268 6 23 0 n/a n/a 1 513
2010 218 268 5 32 0 n/a n/a 3 526
2011 209 279 7 23 1 0 10 0 529
2012 206 283 5 30 3 0 12 0 539
2013 190 275 7 35 1 0 14 0 522
2014 203 286 8 41 1 0 11 0 550
2015 178 286 7 51 0 0 14 0 536
2016 173 278 5 63 0 0 15 0 534
2017 167 275 3 62 0 0 13 0 520
2018 164 301 5 72 1 0 11 0 554
2019 164 303 4 77 0 0 14 0 562
2020 156 301 4 80 1 0 17 0 559
2021 137 308 2 90 1 0 22 0 560
2022 140 299 3 84 1 0 30 0 557
2023 144 260 4 79 0 0 32 0 519

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at A. R. Rucker Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 806 44.5 18.1 n/a
1989 828 44.0 18.8 n/a
1990 800 43.6 18.3 n/a
1991 767 42.5 18.0 32.3
1992 767 40.3 19.0 33.6
1993 839 40.0 21.0 38.6
1994 820 50.3 16.3 45.7
1995 726 49.0 14.8 42.1
1996 726 49.0 14.8 42.1
1997 687 50.0 13.7 41.5
1998 706 50.0 14.1 46
1999 722 50.0 14.4 51.2
2000 749 47.8 15.7 52.5
2001 763 49.0 15.6 56.6
2002 680 50.0 13.6 62.6
2003 680 50.0 13.6 62.6
2004 707 46.0 15.4 62.2
2005 648 49.5 13.1 59.7
2006 572 45.5 12.6 61.4
2007 532 58.0 9.2 62.4
2008 512 41.0 12.5 61.5
2009 513 31.5 16.3 58.8
2010 526 38.0 13.8 66
2011 529 33.0 16.0 67.7
2012 539 34.0 15.8 68.6
2013 522 38.0 13.7 70.5
2014 550 38.0 14.4 72.4
2015 536 35.0 15.3 73.7
2016 534 36.0 14.8 70.8
2017 520 38.0 13.6 100
2018 554 39.0 14.2 100
2019 562 40.0 14.0 70.5
2020 559 33.0 16.9 99.5
2021 560 33.0 16.9 67.3
2022 557 34.5 16.1 100
2023 519 35.1 14.7 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio A. R. Rucker Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 806 44.5 18.1 n/a
1989 828 44.0 18.8 n/a
1990 800 43.6 18.3 n/a
1991 767 42.5 18.0 32.3
1992 767 40.3 19.0 33.6
1993 839 40.0 21.0 38.6
1994 820 50.3 16.3 45.7
1995 726 49.0 14.8 42.1
1996 726 49.0 14.8 42.1
1997 687 50.0 13.7 41.5
1998 706 50.0 14.1 46
1999 722 50.0 14.4 51.2
2000 749 47.8 15.7 52.5
2001 763 49.0 15.6 56.6
2002 680 50.0 13.6 62.6
2003 680 50.0 13.6 62.6
2004 707 46.0 15.4 62.2
2005 648 49.5 13.1 59.7
2006 572 45.5 12.6 61.4
2007 532 58.0 9.2 62.4
2008 512 41.0 12.5 61.5
2009 513 31.5 16.3 58.8
2010 526 38.0 13.8 66
2011 529 33.0 16.0 67.7
2012 539 34.0 15.8 68.6
2013 522 38.0 13.7 70.5
2014 550 38.0 14.4 72.4
2015 536 35.0 15.3 73.7
2016 534 36.0 14.8 70.8
2017 520 38.0 13.6 100
2018 554 39.0 14.2 100
2019 562 40.0 14.0 70.5
2020 559 33.0 16.9 99.5
2021 560 33.0 16.9 67.3
2022 557 34.5 16.1 100
2023 519 35.1 14.7 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for A. R. Rucker Middle

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $690 (7.1%) $117 (1.2%) $807 (8.3%) $7,439 (76.9%) $1,426 (14.7%) $8,866 (91.7%) $9,673
2020 $751 (7.4%) $127 (1.3%) $878 (8.7%) $7,828 (77.4%) $1,409 (13.9%) $9,237 (91.3%) $10,115
2021 $431 (4.2%) $85 (0.8%) $516 (5.0%) $8,279 (80.9%) $1,436 (14.0%) $9,715 (95.0%) $10,231
2022 $542 (5.3%) $328 (3.2%) $870 (8.6%) $8,228 (81.1%) $1,049 (10.3%) $9,278 (91.4%) $10,148
2023 $893 (8.1%) $572 (5.2%) $1,465 (13.3%) $8,262 (75.0%) $1,290 (11.7%) $9,552 (86.7%) $11,017

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on A. R. Rucker Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 226th of 315 Middle schoolsRanks 267th of 325 Middle schools
 10.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Science (A. R. Rucker Middle)39.223
 16.2%
   6th Grade Science (Lancaster 01)48.743.3
 5.4%
   6th Grade Science (South Carolina)47.143
 4.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (A. R. Rucker Middle)26.134.3
 8.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Lancaster 01)4254.2
 12.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)41.153.4
 12.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (A. R. Rucker Middle)3218.6
 13.4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Lancaster 01)43.444.5
 1.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)43.936.7
 7.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (A. R. Rucker Middle)2534.9
 9.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Lancaster 01)4350.2
 7.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4450.1
 6.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (A. R. Rucker Middle)18.915.2
 3.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Lancaster 01)34.534.4
 0.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)35.331
 4.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (A. R. Rucker Middle)35.234.3
 0.9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Lancaster 01)45.748.3
 2.6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)44.553.1
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (A. R. Rucker Middle)17.44.5
 12.9%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Lancaster 01)36.233.1
 3.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)36.631.6
 5%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (A. R. Rucker Middle)89.858.1
 31.7%
   End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Lancaster 01)71.764.6
 7.1%
   End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Carolina)68.668.3
 0.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students562519
 7.7%
African American303260
 14.2%
American Indian00
Asian44
Hispanic7779
 2.6%
Pacific Islander00
White164144
 12.2%
Two or More Races1432
 128.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients70.5%100%
 29.5%


Schools Near A. R. Rucker Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about A. R. Rucker Middle

Students at A. R. Rucker Middle are 50% African American, 28% White, 15% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

A. R. Rucker Middle ranks in the bottom 17.8% of South Carolina middle schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 519 students attended A. R. Rucker Middle.

Students who attend A. R. Rucker Middle usually go on to attend Buford High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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