- Enrollment
- 1,862
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Central, SC
Central Academy of the Arts
Federal NCES profile for Central Academy of the Arts, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450333000882
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Academy of the Arts earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Central · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Academy of the Arts has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Academy of the Arts ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Central, SC.
School address
District: Pickens 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450333000882 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+42 students YoY
Central Academy of the Arts grew from 443 students in 2022-23 to 485 in 2023-24 (+9.5%).
Teacher FTE added 33.4 → 33.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+42 students YoY 450333000882 · Central, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
499 enr · 15.1:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Easley High (1,862 students)
Central Academy of the Arts grew from 443 students in 2022-23 to 485 in 2023-24 (+9.5%). Teacher FTE added 33.4 → 33.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Central Academy of the Arts in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Easley High
Easley High
1,862 students
- Pickens High
Pickens High
1,226 students
- D. W. Daniel H
D. W. Daniel High
1,222 students
- Richard H. Get
Richard H. Gettys Middle
1,217 students
- R. C. Edwards
R. C. Edwards Middle
835 students
- This school 499
Central Academy of the Arts
499 students
What this shows Central Academy of the Arts reports 499 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Academy of the Arts compares
Central Academy of the Arts is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 15.1:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 499 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
499
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 65% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.3%
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
$11,485
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 499 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.1%
African American 15.8%
Hispanic or Latino 15.4%
Two or More 10.4%
Asian 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 56.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.5, Central Academy of the Arts is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pickens 01 reports $11,485 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Academy of the Arts Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pickens High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| D. W. Daniel High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richard H. Gettys Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| R. C. Edwards Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Academy of the Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,226
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,222
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,217
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
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 (~499 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Academy of the Arts
How many students attend Central Academy of the Arts?
Central Academy of the Arts has 499 students enrolled. It is a public school in Central, SC. CCD year-over-year: 443 (2022-23) → 485 (2023-24), up 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Academy of the Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Academy of the Arts is 15.1:1, which is 6% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Academy of the Arts?
100.0% of students at Central Academy of the Arts are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Academy of the Arts?
The largest demographic group at Central Academy of the Arts is White at 56.1% of enrollment, in Central, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Academy of the Arts?
Central Academy of the Arts has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Central Academy of the Arts rank among public schools in Central?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Academy of the Arts ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Central, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Pickens 01?
Besides Central Academy of the Arts, Pickens 01 also operates Easley High (1,862 students), Pickens High (1,226 students), and D. W. Daniel High (1,222 students). See the Pickens 01 district page for the complete list.