- Enrollment
- 1,434
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Laurens, SC
Ford Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ford Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450261000693
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ford Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- schools in Laurens · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.8:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Ford Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ford Elementary ranks #3 of 3 schools in Laurens, SC.
School address
District: Laurens 55 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450261000693 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Ford Elementary held near 418 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 33.7 → 33.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 450261000693 · Laurens, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
423 enr · 12.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Laurens District 55 High (1,434 students)
Ford Elementary held near 418 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 33.7 → 33.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Ford Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Laurens Distri
Laurens District 55 High
1,434 students
- Gray Court-Owi
Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle
715 students
- Hickory Tavern
Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle
623 students
- Laurens Elemen 465
Laurens Elementary
465 students
- E. B. Morse El 447
E. B. Morse Elementary
447 students
- This school 423
Ford Elementary
423 students
What this shows Ford Elementary reports 423 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ford Elementary compares
Ford Elementary 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 | 12.8:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 423 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
423
Bigger than 51% 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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 31% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.0%
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
$14,216
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 423 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
41
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.0%
White 28.6%
African American 22.0%
Two or More 5.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.3, Ford Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Laurens 55 reports $14,216 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ford Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens District 55 High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Laurens Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| E. B. Morse Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ford Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 715
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Laurens
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~423 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ford Elementary
How many students attend Ford Elementary?
Ford Elementary has 423 students enrolled. It is a public school in Laurens, SC. CCD year-over-year: 416 (2022-23) → 418 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ford Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ford Elementary is 12.8:1, which is 10% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 18% 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 Ford Elementary?
100.0% of students at Ford Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ford Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ford Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment, in Laurens, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ford Elementary?
Ford Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Ford Elementary rank among schools in Laurens?
By Resource Investment Index, Ford Elementary ranks #3 of 3 schools in Laurens, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Laurens on the city page.
What other schools are in Laurens 55?
Besides Ford Elementary, Laurens 55 also operates Laurens District 55 High (1,434 students), Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle (715 students), and Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle (623 students). See the Laurens 55 district page for the complete list.