- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Forest Heights Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Forest Heights Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450336000649
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forest Heights Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #37 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Forest Heights Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Heights Elementary ranks #37 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000649 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Forest Heights Elementary held near 433 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 33.0 → 36.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 450336000649 · Columbia, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
435 enr · 13.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
Forest Heights Elementary held near 433 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 33.0 → 36.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Forest Heights Elementary 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 435
Forest Heights Elementary
435 students
What this shows Forest Heights Elementary reports 435 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forest Heights Elementary compares
Forest Heights 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 | 13.2:1 | ▼ 8% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 435 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
435
Bigger than 53% 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
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 37% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.7%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 435 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 71 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 72.2%
Hispanic or Latino 17.7%
Two or More 6.0%
White 4.1%
Largest group: African American at 72.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.2, Forest Heights Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Forest Heights Elementary 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forest Heights Elementary'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 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 (~435 students)
Frequently asked questions about Forest Heights Elementary
How many students attend Forest Heights Elementary?
Forest Heights Elementary has 435 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 441 (2022-23) → 433 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Heights Elementary is 13.2:1, which is 8% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 16% 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 Forest Heights Elementary?
100.0% of students at Forest Heights Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forest Heights Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Forest Heights Elementary is African American at 72.2% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forest Heights Elementary?
Forest Heights Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Forest Heights Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Heights Elementary ranks #37 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 Richland 01?
Besides Forest Heights Elementary, 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.