- Enrollment
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Summerville, SC
Fort Dorchester Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Fort Dorchester Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450201000715
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Dorchester Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #2 of 15
- schools in Summerville · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 43.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Fort Dorchester Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Dorchester Elementary ranks #2 of 15 schools in Summerville, SC.
School address
District: Dorchester 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450201000715 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Fort Dorchester Elementary held near 860 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-32 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 60.4 → 59.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-32 students YoY 450201000715 · Summerville, SC Other · MID · TRAD
801 enr · 13.3:1 · 43.4% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Summerville High (3,361 students)
Fort Dorchester Elementary held near 860 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-32 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 60.4 → 59.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Fort Dorchester Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Summerville Hi
Summerville High
3,361 students
- Ashley Ridge H
Ashley Ridge High
2,599 students
- Fort Dorcheste
Fort Dorchester High
2,344 students
- Sand Hill Elem 1,169
Sand Hill Elementary
1,169 students
- Beech Hill Ele 1,079
Beech Hill Elementary
1,079 students
- This school 801
Fort Dorchester Elementary
801 students
What this shows Fort Dorchester Elementary reports 801 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fort Dorchester Elementary compares
Fort Dorchester 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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.4% | ▼ 41% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 801 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
801
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 39% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,212
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 401 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
39
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 41.2%
African American 27.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.4%
Two or More 8.6%
Asian 6.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 41.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.8, Fort Dorchester Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dorchester 02 reports $11,212 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fort Dorchester Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ashley Ridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Dorchester High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Hill Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beech Hill Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Dorchester Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,599
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,344
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,079
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Summerville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sand Hill Elementary
Standard public school
1,169 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Cane Bay Elementary
Standard public school
1,161 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Beech Hill Elementary
Standard public school
1,079 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Nexton Elementary
Standard public school
944 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
William M. Reeves Elementary
Standard public school
930 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Newington Elementary
Standard public school
862 students 17.6:1 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 (~801 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fort Dorchester Elementary
How many students attend Fort Dorchester Elementary?
Fort Dorchester Elementary has 801 students enrolled. It is a public school in Summerville, SC. CCD year-over-year: 892 (2022-23) → 860 (2023-24), nearly flat (-32).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Dorchester Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Dorchester Elementary is 13.3:1, which is 7% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 15% 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 Fort Dorchester Elementary?
43.4% of students at Fort Dorchester Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Dorchester Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Fort Dorchester Elementary is White at 41.2% of enrollment, in Summerville, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Dorchester Elementary?
Fort Dorchester Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Fort Dorchester Elementary rank among schools in Summerville?
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Dorchester Elementary ranks #2 of 15 schools in Summerville, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Summerville on the city page.
What other schools are in Dorchester 02?
Besides Fort Dorchester Elementary, Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students), Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students), and Fort Dorchester High (2,344 students). See the Dorchester 02 district page for the complete list.