- Enrollment
- 1,827
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gaffney, SC
B. D. Lee Elementary
Federal NCES profile for B. D. Lee Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450150000278
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
B. D. Lee Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #6 of 8
- schools in Gaffney · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
B. D. Lee Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, B. D. Lee Elementary ranks #6 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC.
School address
District: Cherokee 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450150000278 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
B. D. Lee Elementary held near 617 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 41.8 → 42.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 450150000278 · Gaffney, SC Other · MID · TRAD
603 enr · 14.7:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Gaffney High (1,827 students)
B. D. Lee Elementary held near 617 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 41.8 → 42.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
B. D. Lee Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gaffney High
Gaffney High
1,827 students
- Gaffney Middle
Gaffney Middle
851 students
- This school 603
B. D. Lee Elementary
603 students
- Grassy Pond El 519
Grassy Pond Elementary
519 students
- Blacksburg Hig 482
Blacksburg High
482 students
- Limestone-Cent 436
Limestone-Central Elementary
436 students
What this shows B. D. Lee Elementary reports 603 students on the CCD universe file.
How B. D. Lee Elementary compares
B. D. Lee 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 | 14.7:1 | ▲ 3% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 603 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
603
Bigger than 73% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 60% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
50.4%
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
$13,668
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 302 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 65.2%
White 19.1%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Two or More 5.0%
Asian 1.7%
Largest group: African American at 65.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.7, B. D. Lee Elementary is about as mixed as the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cherokee 01 reports $13,668 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How B. D. Lee Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gaffney Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grassy Pond Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blacksburg High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Limestone-Central Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to B. D. Lee Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 851
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 482
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar other schools in Gaffney
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cherokee Charter School
Standard public school
633 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Grassy Pond Elementary
Standard public school
519 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Limestone-Central Elementary
Standard public school
436 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Northwest Elementary
Standard public school
423 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
Standard public school
399 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Corinth Elementary
Standard public school
292 students 10.8:1 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 (~603 students)
Frequently asked questions about B. D. Lee Elementary
How many students attend B. D. Lee Elementary?
B. D. Lee Elementary has 603 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gaffney, SC. CCD year-over-year: 607 (2022-23) → 617 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at B. D. Lee Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at B. D. Lee Elementary is 14.7:1, which is 3% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at B. D. Lee Elementary?
100.0% of students at B. D. Lee Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of B. D. Lee Elementary?
The largest demographic group at B. D. Lee Elementary is African American at 65.2% of enrollment, in Gaffney, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for B. D. Lee Elementary?
B. D. Lee Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 B. D. Lee Elementary rank among schools in Gaffney?
By Resource Investment Index, B. D. Lee Elementary ranks #6 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gaffney on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherokee 01?
Besides B. D. Lee Elementary, Cherokee 01 also operates Gaffney High (1,827 students), Gaffney Middle (851 students), and Grassy Pond Elementary (519 students). See the Cherokee 01 district page for the complete list.