Enrollment
1,336
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Myrtle Beach, SC
Carolina Forest Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Carolina Forest Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450249000191
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Carolina Forest Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of South Carolina schools.
- #8 of 10
- schools in Myrtle Beach · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.5:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 59.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Carolina Forest Elementary has class sizes larger than 80% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Carolina Forest Elementary ranks #8 of 10 schools in Myrtle Beach, SC.
School address
District: Horry 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450249000191 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
81.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.5:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
59.6%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-19% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Carolina Forest Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Carolina Forest Elementary
Carolina Forest Elementary is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, enrolling 1,336 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.5:1 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 59.6% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 93% of state schools at 1,336 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Among 100 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #8, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (55%) and Hispanic or Latino (16%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 297 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
13.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Myrtle Beach's public schools, it stands alongside River Oaks Elementary (1,426 students): Carolina Forest Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.5:1 vs 18.1:1).
Horry 01 also operates Carolina Forest High (3,176 students) and St. James High (1,826 students) alongside Carolina Forest Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Carolina Forest Elementary compares
Carolina Forest Elementary on the metrics families compare, against South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.5:1 | ▲ 15% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.6% | ▼ 19% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,336 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.5:1
Leaner classes than 34% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,336
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
59.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
16.5:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 80% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,785
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.5 FTE
Per 297 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
26
in-school suspensions + 36 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 55.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.4%
African American 13.5%
Two or More 11.3%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 55.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.5, Carolina Forest Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Horry 01, which includes Carolina Forest Elementary.
$12,785
Per student
-12%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.9%
State 36.1%
Federal 16.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Carolina Forest Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. James High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Conway High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Socastee High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Myrtle Beach High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Carolina Forest Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,176
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,826
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,673
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Myrtle Beach
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
River Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
1,426 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Ocean Bay Elementary
Standard public school
1,181 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Forestbrook Elementary
Standard public school
930 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
St. James Elementary
Standard public school
884 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Lakewood Elementary
Standard public school
866 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Socastee Elementary
Standard public school
850 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,336 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Carolina Forest Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Carolina Forest Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Horry 01's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Carolina Forest Elementary
How many students attend Carolina Forest Elementary?
Carolina Forest Elementary has 1,336 students enrolled. It is a public school in Myrtle Beach, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carolina Forest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Carolina Forest Elementary is 16.5:1, which is 15% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 5% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Carolina Forest Elementary?
59.6% of students at Carolina Forest Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Carolina Forest Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Carolina Forest Elementary is White at 55.3% of enrollment, in Myrtle Beach, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Carolina Forest Elementary?
Carolina Forest Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Carolina Forest Elementary rank among schools in Myrtle Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, Carolina Forest Elementary ranks #8 of 10 schools in Myrtle Beach, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Myrtle Beach on the city page.
Is Carolina Forest Elementary a good school?
Carolina Forest Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of South Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Horry 01?
Besides Carolina Forest Elementary, Horry 01 also operates Carolina Forest High (3,176 students), St. James High (1,826 students), and Conway High (1,724 students). See the Horry 01 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.