Enrollment
801
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
60.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.3:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.4%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fort Dorchester Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fort Dorchester Elementary
Fort Dorchester Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Summerville, South Carolina, enrolling 801 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 43.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 801 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 150 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #47.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and African American (27%) (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 401 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Dorchester 02 spends $11,173 per pupil, 23% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Summerville's public schools, it stands alongside Sand Hill Elementary (1,169 students): Fort Dorchester Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.3:1 vs 18.6:1).
Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students) and Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students) alongside Fort Dorchester Elementary.
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 Fort Dorchester Elementary compares
Fort Dorchester Elementary 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$11,173
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dorchester 02, which includes Fort Dorchester Elementary.
$11,173
Per student
-23%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.4%
State 53.8%
Federal 13.8%
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 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
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- 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
Similar other 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 (~801 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fort Dorchester Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Fort Dorchester Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Dorchester 02'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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Fort Dorchester Elementary a good school?
Fort Dorchester Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. 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 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.
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.