- Enrollment
- 1,212
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · West Columbia, SC
Airport High
Federal NCES profile for Airport High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450273000741
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Airport High earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of South Carolina schools.
- #13 of 14
- public schools in West Columbia · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 78.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Airport High has class sizes larger than 84% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Airport High ranks #13 of 14 public schools in West Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Lexington 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450273000741 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-90 students YoY
Airport High shrank from 1,428 students in 2022-23 to 1,338 in 2023-24 (-6.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 75.0 → 72.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-90 students YoY 450273000741 · West Columbia, SC High · MID · TRAD
1,272 enr · 17:1 · 78.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Brookland-Cayce High (1,212 students)
Airport High shrank from 1,428 students in 2022-23 to 1,338 in 2023-24 (-6.3%). Teacher FTE lost 75.0 → 72.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Airport High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Airport High
1,272 students
- Brookland-Cayc
Brookland-Cayce High
1,212 students
- Riverbank Elem
Riverbank Elementary
996 students
- Cayce Elementa
Cayce Elementary
977 students
- Herbert a. Woo
Herbert a. Wood Elementary
938 students
- Northside Midd
Northside Middle
528 students
What this shows Airport High reports 1,272 students on the CCD universe file.
How Airport High compares
Airport High is a shrinking campus on CCD: 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 | 17:1 | ▲ 19% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.6% | ▲ 6% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,272 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,272
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% 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
17:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 84% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
43.6%
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
$14,535
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 318 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
123
in-school suspensions + 85 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 16 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 35.6%
African American 34.6%
Hispanic or Latino 24.2%
Two or More 4.1%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 35.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.3, Airport High is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lexington 02 reports $14,535 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Airport High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookland-Cayce High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Riverbank Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cayce Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Herbert a. Wood Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northside Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Airport High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 977
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 938
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar high schools in West Columbia
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,272 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17:1)
Frequently asked questions about Airport High
How many students attend Airport High?
Airport High has 1,272 students enrolled. It is a high school in West Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 1,428 (2022-23) → 1,338 (2023-24), down 90.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Airport High?
The student-teacher ratio at Airport High is 17:1, which is 19% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Airport High?
78.6% of students at Airport High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Airport High?
The largest demographic group at Airport High is White at 35.6% of enrollment, in West Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Airport High?
Airport High has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Airport High rank among public schools in West Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Airport High ranks #13 of 14 public schools in West Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in West Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Lexington 02?
Besides Airport High, Lexington 02 also operates Brookland-Cayce High (1,212 students), Riverbank Elementary (996 students), and Cayce Elementary (977 students). See the Lexington 02 district page for the complete list.