- Enrollment
- 1,352
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ruffin, SC
Bells Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bells Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450183000332
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 9
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bells Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of South Carolina schools.
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.9:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
- 249
- students enrolled
Bells Elementary has class sizes smaller than 80% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Colleton 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450183000332 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Bells Elementary held near 278 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 21.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 450183000332 · Ruffin, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
249 enr · 11.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Colleton County High (1,352 students)
Bells Elementary held near 278 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 21.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Bells Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Colleton Count
Colleton County High
1,352 students
- Colleton Count
Colleton County Middle
931 students
- Forest Hills E 472
Forest Hills Elementary
472 students
- Northside Elem 428
Northside Elementary
428 students
- Cottageville E 425
Cottageville Elementary
425 students
- This school 249
Bells Elementary
249 students
What this shows Bells Elementary reports 249 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bells Elementary compares
Bells 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 | 11.9:1 | ▼ 17% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 249 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
249
Bigger than 25% 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
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 20% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
36.5%
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
$14,940
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 249 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 45.0%
African American 41.4%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%
Two or More 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 45.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.6, Bells Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Colleton 01 reports $14,940 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bells Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleton County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Colleton County Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forest Hills Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northside Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cottageville Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bells Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 931
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 472
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 428
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 425
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
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 (~249 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bells Elementary
How many students attend Bells Elementary?
Bells Elementary has 249 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ruffin, SC. CCD year-over-year: 291 (2022-23) → 278 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bells Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bells Elementary is 11.9:1, which is 17% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 24% 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 Bells Elementary?
100.0% of students at Bells Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bells Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bells Elementary is White at 45.0% of enrollment, in Ruffin, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bells Elementary?
Bells Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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).
What other schools are in Colleton 01?
Besides Bells Elementary, Colleton 01 also operates Colleton County High (1,352 students), Colleton County Middle (931 students), and Forest Hills Elementary (472 students). See the Colleton 01 district page for the complete list.