- Enrollment
- 1,731
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bluffton, SC
Bluffton Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bluffton Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450111000418
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bluffton Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Bluffton · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.1:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 26.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Bluffton Elementary has class sizes smaller than 87% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bluffton Elementary ranks #2 of 6 schools in Bluffton, SC.
School address
District: Beaufort 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450111000418 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
Bluffton Elementary held near 714 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 64.0 → 68.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+18 students YoY 450111000418 · Bluffton, SC Other · MID · TRAD
709 enr · 11.1:1 · 26.1% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: May River High (1,731 students)
Bluffton Elementary held near 714 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount). Teacher FTE added 64.0 → 68.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Bluffton Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- May River High
May River High
1,731 students
- Bluffton High
Bluffton High
1,375 students
- Hilton Head Is
Hilton Head Island High
1,265 students
- River Ridge Ac
River Ridge Academy
1,134 students
- Beaufort High
Beaufort High
1,104 students
- This school
Bluffton Elementary
709 students
What this shows Bluffton Elementary reports 709 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bluffton Elementary compares
Bluffton 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 | 11.1:1 | ▼ 22% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.1% | ▼ 65% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 709 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
709
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% below the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 13% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,232
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 355 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 43.7%
White 38.1%
African American 9.7%
Two or More 5.5%
Asian 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Bluffton Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Beaufort 01 reports $17,232 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bluffton Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| May River High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bluffton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hilton Head Island High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| River Ridge Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beaufort High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bluffton Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,375
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,265
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,134
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 1,104
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Bluffton
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
River Ridge Academy
Standard public school
1,134 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Pritchardville Elementary
Standard public school
887 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Michael C. Riley Elementary
Standard public school
704 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Okatie Elementary
Standard public school
648 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Red Cedar Elementary
Standard public school
636 students 11.4:1 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 (~709 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Bluffton Elementary
How many students attend Bluffton Elementary?
Bluffton Elementary has 709 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bluffton, SC. CCD year-over-year: 696 (2022-23) → 714 (2023-24), nearly flat (+18).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bluffton Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bluffton Elementary is 11.1:1, which is 22% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 29% 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 Bluffton Elementary?
26.1% of students at Bluffton Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bluffton Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bluffton Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 43.7% of enrollment, in Bluffton, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bluffton Elementary?
Bluffton 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 Bluffton Elementary rank among schools in Bluffton?
By Resource Investment Index, Bluffton Elementary ranks #2 of 6 schools in Bluffton, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Bluffton on the city page.
What other schools are in Beaufort 01?
Besides Bluffton Elementary, Beaufort 01 also operates May River High (1,731 students), Bluffton High (1,375 students), and Hilton Head Island High (1,265 students). See the Beaufort 01 district page for the complete list.