- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lancaster, SC
Buford Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Buford Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450258000671
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buford Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of South Carolina schools.
- #5 of 6
- schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.3:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 62.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Buford Elementary has class sizes larger than 95% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buford Elementary ranks #5 of 6 schools in Lancaster, SC.
School address
District: Lancaster 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450258000671 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Buford Elementary held near 758 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 41.4 → 45.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-21 students YoY 450258000671 · Lancaster, SC Other · MID · TRAD
792 enr · 19.3:1 · 62.8% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Indian Land High (1,905 students)
Buford Elementary held near 758 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount). Teacher FTE added 41.4 → 45.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Buford Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Indian Land Hi
Indian Land High
1,905 students
- Lancaster High
Lancaster High
1,390 students
- Indian Land In
Indian Land Intermediate
1,181 students
- Harrisburg Ele
Harrisburg Elementary
1,161 students
- Indian Land Mi
Indian Land Middle
1,102 students
- This school
Buford Elementary
792 students
What this shows Buford Elementary reports 792 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buford Elementary compares
Buford 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 | 19.3:1 | ▲ 35% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.8% | ▼ 15% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 792 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.3:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
792
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% below 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
19.3:1
students per teacher
- 35% above state mean
Top 95% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
18.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,216
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 396 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 83 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 83.1%
African American 5.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%
Two or More 5.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 83.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.0, Buford Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lancaster 01 reports $12,216 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buford Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Land High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lancaster High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Indian Land Intermediate | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harrisburg Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Land Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buford Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,390
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,181
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,102
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar other schools in Lancaster
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Van Wyck Elementary
Standard public school
820 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
North Elementary
Standard public school
645 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Erwin Elementary
Standard public school
418 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Clinton Elementary
Standard public school
412 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Brooklyn Springs Elementary
Standard public school
398 students 13.7:1 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 (~792 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buford Elementary
How many students attend Buford Elementary?
Buford Elementary has 792 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lancaster, SC. CCD year-over-year: 779 (2022-23) → 758 (2023-24), nearly flat (-21).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buford Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buford Elementary is 19.3:1, which is 35% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 23% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buford Elementary?
62.8% of students at Buford Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buford Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Buford Elementary is White at 83.1% of enrollment, in Lancaster, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buford Elementary?
Buford Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Buford Elementary rank among schools in Lancaster?
By Resource Investment Index, Buford Elementary ranks #5 of 6 schools in Lancaster, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lancaster on the city page.
What other schools are in Lancaster 01?
Besides Buford Elementary, Lancaster 01 also operates Indian Land High (1,905 students), Lancaster High (1,390 students), and Indian Land Intermediate (1,181 students). See the Lancaster 01 district page for the complete list.