Enrollment
3,176
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450249000244
👥 S:T ratio 18
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 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 51/100 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
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 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 →
Teachers (FTE)
156.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.4:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+43% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
51.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-31% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Carolina Forest High compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Carolina Forest High
Carolina Forest High is a higher-need, large high school in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, enrolling 3,176 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.4:1 is larger than about 97% of South Carolina schools and 43% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 51.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 99% of state schools at 3,176 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 16 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #9.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%) (diversity index 62/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 23 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 353 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 16.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 891 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 3,176 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Myrtle Beach's high schools, it stands alongside Socastee High (1,720 students): Carolina Forest High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.4:1 vs 17.7:1).
Horry 01 also operates St. James High (1,826 students) and Conway High (1,724 students) alongside Carolina Forest High.
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 High compares
Carolina Forest High 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Horry 01, which includes Carolina Forest High.
$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 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
- 1,826
- 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
- 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.
Similar high 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 (~3,176 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Carolina Forest High's federal record.
- Compare Carolina Forest High 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 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.
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 51/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Carolina Forest High a good school?
Carolina Forest High earns 51/100 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. 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 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.
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.