- Enrollment
- 6,152
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Clear Dot Charter School
Federal NCES profile for Clear Dot Charter School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390901717Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Clear Dot Charter School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of South Carolina schools.
- #42 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 84.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Clear Dot Charter School has class sizes larger than 94% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Clear Dot Charter School ranks #42 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Charter Institute at Erskine · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390901717 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+80 students YoY
Clear Dot Charter School grew from 338 students in 2022-23 to 418 in 2023-24 (+23.7%).
Teacher FTE added 25.8 → 42.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+80 students YoY 450390901717 · Columbia, SC Other · SMALL · CHARTER
474 enr · 19:1 · 84.3% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students)
Clear Dot Charter School grew from 338 students in 2022-23 to 418 in 2023-24 (+23.7%). Teacher FTE added 25.8 → 42.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Clear Dot Charter School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sc Connections
Sc Connections Academy
6,152 students
- Cyber Academy
Cyber Academy of South Carolina
3,280 students
- South Carolina 2,180
South Carolina Virtual Charter School
2,180 students
- Gray Collegiat 935
Gray Collegiate Academy
935 students
- Mevers School 772
Mevers School of Excellence
772 students
- This school 474
Clear Dot Charter School
474 students
What this shows Clear Dot Charter School reports 474 students on the CCD universe file.
How Clear Dot Charter School compares
Clear Dot Charter School 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 | 19:1 | ▲ 33% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.3% | ▲ 14% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 474 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
474
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
84.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
19:1
students per teacher
- 33% above state mean
Top 94% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.9%
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
$20,062
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 474 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 80.8%
White 11.6%
Two or More 4.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 80.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.1, Clear Dot Charter School is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
District finance for Charter Institute at Erskine reports $20,062 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Clear Dot Charter School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sc Connections Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cyber Academy of South Carolina | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mevers School of Excellence | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Clear Dot Charter School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,280
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Columbia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sc Connections Academy
Standard public school
6,152 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Brennen Elementary
Standard public school
805 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Rice Creek Elementary
Standard public school
718 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Caughman Road Elementary
Standard public school
715 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Killian Elementary
Standard public school
699 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Sandlapper Elementary
Standard public school
671 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~474 students)
Frequently asked questions about Clear Dot Charter School
How many students attend Clear Dot Charter School?
Clear Dot Charter School has 474 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 338 (2022-23) → 418 (2023-24), up 80.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Clear Dot Charter School?
The student-teacher ratio at Clear Dot Charter School is 19:1, which is 33% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 21% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Clear Dot Charter School?
84.3% of students at Clear Dot Charter School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Clear Dot Charter School?
The largest demographic group at Clear Dot Charter School is African American at 80.8% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Clear Dot Charter School?
Clear Dot Charter School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 Clear Dot Charter School rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Clear Dot Charter School ranks #42 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Charter Institute at Erskine?
Besides Clear Dot Charter School, Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students), Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students), and South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students). See the Charter Institute at Erskine district page for the complete list.