- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbia, SC
E. L. Wright Middle
Federal NCES profile for E. L. Wright Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 450339000973
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
E. L. Wright Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #5 of 5
- elementary schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 64.5%
- free-lunch eligible
E. L. Wright Middle has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, E. L. Wright Middle ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339000973 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-69 students YoY
E. L. Wright Middle shrank from 1,354 students in 2022-23 to 1,285 in 2023-24 (-5.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 87.4 → 85.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-69 students YoY 450339000973 · Columbia, SC Elementary · MID · TRAD
1,275 enr · 14.7:1 · 64.5% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring Valley High (2,230 students)
E. L. Wright Middle shrank from 1,354 students in 2022-23 to 1,285 in 2023-24 (-5.1%). Teacher FTE lost 87.4 → 85.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
E. L. Wright Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Spring Valley
Spring Valley High
2,230 students
- Blythewood Hig
Blythewood High
2,164 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High
1,743 students
- Ridge View Hig
Ridge View High
1,631 students
- Richland North
Richland Northeast High
1,340 students
- This school
E. L. Wright Middle
1,275 students
What this shows E. L. Wright Middle reports 1,275 students on the CCD universe file.
How E. L. Wright Middle compares
E. L. Wright Middle is a shrinking 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 | 14.7:1 | ▲ 3% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.5% | ▼ 13% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,275 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,275
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 60% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.0%
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
$14,024
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 425 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
262
in-school suspensions + 249 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 40.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 57.6%
White 15.8%
Hispanic or Latino 15.8%
Asian 5.6%
Two or More 4.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 57.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.3, E. L. Wright Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 02 reports $14,024 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How E. L. Wright Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blythewood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge View High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richland Northeast High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to E. L. Wright Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,164
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,743
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,631
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,340
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbia
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Summit Parkway Middle
Standard public school
1,229 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Satchel Ford Elementary
Standard public school
721 students 16:1 students per teacher
Rosewood Elementary
Standard public school
338 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy
Standard public school
216 students 8.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~1,275 students)
Frequently asked questions about E. L. Wright Middle
How many students attend E. L. Wright Middle?
E. L. Wright Middle has 1,275 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 1,354 (2022-23) → 1,285 (2023-24), down 69.
What is the student-teacher ratio at E. L. Wright Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at E. L. Wright Middle is 14.7:1, which is 3% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at E. L. Wright Middle?
64.5% of students at E. L. Wright Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of E. L. Wright Middle?
The largest demographic group at E. L. Wright Middle is African American at 57.6% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for E. L. Wright Middle?
E. L. Wright Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 E. L. Wright Middle rank among elementary schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, E. L. Wright Middle ranks #5 of 5 elementary 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 elementary schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 02?
Besides E. L. Wright Middle, Richland 02 also operates Spring Valley High (2,230 students), Blythewood High (2,164 students), and Westwood High (1,743 students). See the Richland 02 district page for the complete list.