- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbia, SC
Columbia High
Federal NCES profile for Columbia High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450336000949
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbia High earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #13 of 15
- high schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Columbia High has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia High ranks #13 of 15 high schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000949 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+28 students YoY
Columbia High held near 693 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+28 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 49.0 → 46.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+28 students YoY 450336000949 · Columbia, SC High · MID · TRAD
681 enr · 13.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
Columbia High held near 693 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+28 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 49.0 → 46.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Columbia High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school
Columbia High
681 students
What this shows Columbia High reports 681 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbia High compares
Columbia 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 | 13.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 681 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
681
Bigger than 79% 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
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 48% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
68.6%
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
$18,992
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 227 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
221
in-school suspensions + 184 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 32.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 59.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 85.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%
Two or More 3.4%
White 2.6%
Asian 2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 85.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.1, Columbia High is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbia High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbia High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar high schools in Columbia
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Spring Valley High
Standard public school
2,230 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Ridge View High
Standard public school
1,631 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Richland Northeast High
Standard public school
1,340 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
A. C. Flora High
Standard public school
1,328 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Irmo High
Standard public school
1,272 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Dreher High
Standard public school
1,144 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~681 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbia High
How many students attend Columbia High?
Columbia High has 681 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 665 (2022-23) → 693 (2023-24), nearly flat (+28).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia High?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia High is 13.9:1, which is 3% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbia High?
100.0% of students at Columbia High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbia High?
The largest demographic group at Columbia High is African American at 85.0% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbia High?
Columbia High has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Columbia High rank among high schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia High ranks #13 of 15 high 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 high schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 01?
Besides Columbia High, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.