- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Arden Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Arden Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450336000907
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Arden Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of South Carolina schools.
- #6 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.8:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Arden Elementary has class sizes smaller than 89% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Arden Elementary ranks #6 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000907 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
Arden Elementary held near 227 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 20.0 → 21.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 450336000907 · Columbia, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
216 enr · 10.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
Arden Elementary held near 227 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE added 20.0 → 21.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Arden Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school 216
Arden Elementary
216 students
What this shows Arden Elementary reports 216 students on the CCD universe file.
How Arden Elementary compares
Arden Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 10.8:1 | ▼ 24% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 216 | top 90% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
216
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 11% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.6%
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
$18,992
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 216 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 58.3%
Hispanic or Latino 33.8%
Two or More 5.1%
Asian 1.9%
White 0.9%
Largest group: African American at 58.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.3, Arden Elementary is about as mixed as the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Arden Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Arden Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar other schools in Columbia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sc Connections Academy
Standard public school
6,152 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Brennen Elementary
Standard public school
805 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Rice Creek Elementary
Standard public school
718 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Caughman Road Elementary
Standard public school
715 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Killian Elementary
Standard public school
699 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Sandlapper Elementary
Standard public school
671 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~216 students)
Frequently asked questions about Arden Elementary
How many students attend Arden Elementary?
Arden Elementary has 216 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 234 (2022-23) → 227 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Arden Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Arden Elementary is 10.8:1, which is 24% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 31% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Arden Elementary?
100.0% of students at Arden Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Arden Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Arden Elementary is African American at 58.3% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Arden Elementary?
Arden Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Arden Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Arden Elementary ranks #6 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 01?
Besides Arden Elementary, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.