- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Lancaster, SC
Buford High
Federal NCES profile for Buford High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450258001261
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buford High earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of South Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.7:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 48.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Buford High has class sizes smaller than 70% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buford High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Lancaster, SC.
School address
District: Lancaster 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450258001261 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
Buford High held near 554 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 42.7 → 43.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 450258001261 · Lancaster, SC High · MID · TRAD
532 enr · 12.7:1 · 48.3% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Indian Land High (1,905 students)
Buford High held near 554 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE added 42.7 → 43.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Buford High 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 532
Buford High
532 students
What this shows Buford High reports 532 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buford High compares
Buford High 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 | 12.7:1 | ▼ 11% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.3% | ▼ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 532 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
532
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 30% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.1%
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
$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 266 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
169
in-school suspensions + 73 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 31.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 45.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 85.3%
African American 7.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4.1%
Two or More 3.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 85.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.5, Buford High is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
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 High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Land High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lancaster High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian Land Intermediate | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harrisburg Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian Land Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buford High'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 high schools in Lancaster
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~532 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Buford High
How many students attend Buford High?
Buford High has 532 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lancaster, SC. CCD year-over-year: 561 (2022-23) → 554 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buford High?
The student-teacher ratio at Buford High is 12.7:1, which is 11% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 19% 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 Buford High?
48.3% of students at Buford High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buford High?
The largest demographic group at Buford High is White at 85.3% of enrollment, in Lancaster, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buford High?
Buford High has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 High rank among high schools in Lancaster?
By Resource Investment Index, Buford High ranks #1 of 3 high 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 high schools in Lancaster on the city page.
What other schools are in Lancaster 01?
Besides Buford High, 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.