- Enrollment
- 1,826
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Myrtle Beach, SC
Carolina Forest High
Federal NCES profile for Carolina Forest High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450249000244
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Carolina Forest High earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina.
- #4 of 4
- high schools in Myrtle Beach · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.4:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 51.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Carolina Forest High has class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Carolina Forest High ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Myrtle Beach, SC.
School address
District: Horry 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450249000244 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+122 students YoY
Carolina Forest High held near 3,181 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+122 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 156.8 → 163.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+122 students YoY 450249000244 · Myrtle Beach, SC High · LARGE · TRAD
3,176 enr · 20.4:1 · 51.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: St. James High (1,826 students)
Carolina Forest High held near 3,181 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+122 headcount). Teacher FTE added 156.8 → 163.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Carolina Forest High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Carolina Forest High
3,176 students
- St. James High
St. James High
1,826 students
- Conway High
Conway High
1,724 students
- Socastee High
Socastee High
1,720 students
- North Myrtle B
North Myrtle Beach High
1,673 students
- Myrtle Beach H
Myrtle Beach High
1,510 students
What this shows Carolina Forest High reports 3,176 students on the CCD universe file.
How Carolina Forest High compares
Carolina Forest 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 | 20.4:1 | ▲ 43% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.0% | ▼ 31% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,176 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
3,176
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% 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
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 43% above state mean
Top 97% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
25.9%
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
$13,222
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
Counselors9.0 FTE
Per 353 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
475
in-school suspensions + 416 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 56.3%
Hispanic or Latino 20.1%
African American 13.8%
Two or More 7.1%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 56.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.8, Carolina Forest High is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 23
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Horry 01 reports $13,222 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Carolina Forest High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. James High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Conway High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Socastee High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Myrtle Beach High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Myrtle Beach High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Carolina Forest High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 1,510
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Myrtle Beach
3 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 (~3,176 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Carolina Forest High
How many students attend Carolina Forest High?
Carolina Forest High has 3,176 students enrolled. It is a high school in Myrtle Beach, SC. CCD year-over-year: 3,059 (2022-23) → 3,181 (2023-24), nearly flat (+122).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carolina Forest High?
The student-teacher ratio at Carolina Forest High is 20.4:1, which is 43% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 30% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Carolina Forest High?
51.0% of students at Carolina Forest High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Carolina Forest High?
The largest demographic group at Carolina Forest High is White at 56.3% of enrollment, in Myrtle Beach, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Carolina Forest High?
Carolina Forest High has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Carolina Forest High rank among high schools in Myrtle Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, Carolina Forest High ranks #4 of 4 high 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 high schools in Myrtle Beach on the city page.
What other schools are in Horry 01?
Besides Carolina Forest High, Horry 01 also operates St. James High (1,826 students), Conway High (1,724 students), and Socastee High (1,720 students). See the Horry 01 district page for the complete list.