SC Public Charter School District

Columbia, South Carolina — 38 schools

17,601
Total Enrollment
38
Schools
$25,770
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

SC Public Charter School District operates 38 public schools serving 17,601 students, placing it in the mid-size range in South Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 15 other, 13 elementary, 9 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 19,001 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Richland County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $25,770 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 5.8% local, 80.6% state, and 13.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. The district's equity score — 74/100, ranked #8 of 73 in South Carolina against a state average of 51 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 38 schools offering Advanced Placement (34 AP courses district-wide), a 351.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 25.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 47.3% White, 33.8% African American, 11.0% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

SC Public Charter School District school enrollment varies 18× across entities

SC Public Charter School District school enrollment ranges from 92 students (lowest) to 1,672 students (highest), a spread of 1,580 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

SC Public Charter School District student-counselor ratio is 352:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

SC Public Charter School District chronic absenteeism rate is 25.3% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within SC Public Charter School District is typically wider than the SC Public Charter School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

13.6%
Federal
80.6%
State
5.8%
Local

Funding Equity

74
Equity Score
8 / 73
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Richland County county, where this district is located.

$1,032
Studio/mo
$1,164
1 BR/mo
$1,276
2 BR/mo
$1,623
3 BR/mo
$1,911
4 BR/mo

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 38 schools in SC Public Charter School District.

White 47.3%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%
African American 33.8%
Asian 2.2%
Multiracial 5.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

5 / 38
Schools with AP
34 AP courses total
351.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in SC Public Charter School District

School Enrollment
York Preparatory Academy
Charter
1,672
Legacy Early College
Charter
1,592
Bridges Preparatory School
Charter
1,472
High Point Academy
Charter
1,208
Green Charter School
Charter
998
Riverwalk Academy
Charter
755
Liberty Steam Charter School
Charter
730
East Point Academy
Charter
724
Fox Creek High
Charter
672
Lowcountry Acceleration Academy
Charter
619
Greer Middle College Charter High
Charter
535
Greenville Technical Charter High School
Charter
530
Palmetto Scholars Academy
Charter
507
Spartanburg Preparatory School
Charter
454
Sc Whitmore School
Charter
431
Charleston Advancement Academy High School
Charter
424
Green Charter School of Spartanburg
Charter
412
Lowcountry Montessori School
Charter
408
Lead Academy
Charter
403
Butler Academy
Charter
393
Green Upstate High School
Charter
390
Tall Pines Stem Academy
Charter
382
Green Charter School of the Lowcountry
Charter
301
Polaris Tech Charter School
Charter
300
Youth Leadership Academy
Charter
290
Felton Laboratory Charter School
Charter
279
Green Charter School of the Midlands
Charter
258
East Link Academy
Charter
241
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy
Charter
216
Pee Dee Math Sci & Tech
Charter
205
Lakes and Bridges Charter School
Charter
204
Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School
Charter
181
Learn4life High School-Charleston
Charter
169
Midlands Arts Conservatory
Charter
166
Compass Collegiate Academy
Charter
155
Bettis Preparatory Leadership Academy
Charter
118
Midlands Middle College
Charter
115
Meyer Center for Special Children
Charter
92

Nearby Districts in South Carolina

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Greenville 01
77,978 students · 92 schools · $13,261/pupil
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Charleston 01
49,929 students · 82 schools · $20,688/pupil
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Horry 01
47,357 students · 57 schools · $14,530/pupil
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Berkeley 01
37,932 students · 46 schools · $13,148/pupil
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Richland 02
28,510 students · 32 schools · $18,376/pupil
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Compare SC Public Charter School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Greenville 01 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in SC Public Charter School District?

SC Public Charter School District has 38 schools, including 15 other, 13 elementary, 9 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 17,601 students.

How much does SC Public Charter School District spend per student?

SC Public Charter School District spends $25,770 per student. The district has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #8 in South Carolina.

What is the average rent near SC Public Charter School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Richland County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of SC Public Charter School District?

SC Public Charter School District students are 47.3% White, 33.8% African American, 11.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% Asian, averaged across 38 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for SC Public Charter School District?

SC Public Charter School District has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #8 out of 73 districts in South Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

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Federal

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