Enrollment
542
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbia, SC
Eau Claire High
Federal NCES profile for Eau Claire High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450336000951
👥 S:T ratio 55
📚 AP courses 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 64
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Eau Claire High earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of South Carolina schools.
- #9 of 15
- high schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Eau Claire High has class sizes smaller than 86% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Eau Claire High ranks #9 of 15 high schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000951 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.3:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Eau Claire High compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Eau Claire High
Eau Claire High is a high-poverty, mid-sized high school in Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 542 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.3:1, Eau Claire High is leaner than roughly 86% of South Carolina schools and 21% under the state's 14.3:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 542 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 379 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #259.
Its student body is predominantly African American (81% of enrollment) (diversity index 33/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 3 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 181 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 77.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Richland 01 spends $18,122 per pupil, 24% above the South Carolina average, a better-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 279 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 542 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Columbia's high schools, it stands alongside Spring Valley High (2,230 students): Eau Claire High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.3:1 vs 18.3:1).
Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students) and Lower Richland High (1,218 students) alongside Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire High compares
Eau Claire 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 21% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 542 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
542
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 14% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
77.9%
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
$18,122
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $14,558
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 181 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
150
in-school suspensions + 129 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 51.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
African American 80.8%
Hispanic or Latino 13.3%
Two or More 3.9%
White 1.3%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 80.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.8, Eau Claire High is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Richland 01, which includes Eau Claire High.
$18,122
Per student
+24%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
+9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 58.1%
State 28.3%
Federal 13.6%
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 Eau Claire 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Eau Claire High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- 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
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 (~542 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Eau Claire High's federal record.
- Compare Eau Claire High against another school. Compare schools
- Richland 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 Eau Claire High
How many students attend Eau Claire High?
Eau Claire High has 542 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbia, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Eau Claire High?
The student-teacher ratio at Eau Claire High is 11.3:1, which is 21% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 28% 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 Eau Claire High?
100.0% of students at Eau Claire High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Eau Claire High?
The largest demographic group at Eau Claire High is African American at 80.8% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Eau Claire High?
Eau Claire High has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Eau Claire High rank among high schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Eau Claire High ranks #9 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.
Is Eau Claire High a good school?
Eau Claire High earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of South Carolina schools. 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 Richland 01?
Besides Eau Claire 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.
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.