Enrollment
2,344
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · North Charleston, SC
Fort Dorchester High
Federal NCES profile for Fort Dorchester High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450201000007
👥 S:T ratio 27
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 10
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Dorchester High earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina.
- #5 of 5
- high schools in North Charleston · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.2:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 55.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Fort Dorchester High has class sizes larger than 92% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Dorchester High ranks #5 of 5 high schools in North Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Dorchester 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450201000007 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
129.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.2:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
55.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fort Dorchester High compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fort Dorchester High
Fort Dorchester High is a higher-need, large high school in North Charleston, South Carolina, enrolling 2,344 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.2:1 is larger than about 92% of South Carolina schools and 27% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 55.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,344 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 1,214 South Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 35 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #29, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (41%) and White (30%) (diversity index 70/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 22 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 260 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 36.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dorchester 02 spends $11,173 per pupil, 23% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among North Charleston's high schools, it stands alongside Rb Stall High (2,135 students): Fort Dorchester High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.2:1 vs 17.4:1).
Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students) and Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students) alongside Fort Dorchester 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 Fort Dorchester High compares
Fort Dorchester 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 | 18.2:1 | ▲ 27% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.0% | ▼ 26% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,344 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,344
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
55.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 92% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
36.0%
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
$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
Counselors9.0 FTE
Per 260 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
235
in-school suspensions + 128 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
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 41.3%
White 29.6%
Hispanic or Latino 17.5%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 3.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 41.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.4, Fort Dorchester High is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dorchester 02, which includes Fort Dorchester High.
$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 High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ashley Ridge High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Hill Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Beech Hill Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Edisto Middle | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Dorchester High'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
- 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
- Enrollment
- 1,031
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar high schools in North Charleston
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Rb Stall High
Standard public school
2,135 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
North Charleston High
Standard public school
829 students 9.4:1 students per teacher
Academic Magnet High
Standard public school
740 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Greg Mathis Charter High
Standard public school
71 students 11.8:1 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 (~2,344 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fort Dorchester High's federal record.
- Compare Fort Dorchester High 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 High
How many students attend Fort Dorchester High?
Fort Dorchester High has 2,344 students enrolled. It is a high school in North Charleston, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Dorchester High?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Dorchester High is 18.2:1, which is 27% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 16% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fort Dorchester High?
55.0% of students at Fort Dorchester High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Dorchester High?
The largest demographic group at Fort Dorchester High is African American at 41.3% of enrollment, in North Charleston, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Dorchester High?
Fort Dorchester High has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Fort Dorchester High rank among high schools in North Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Dorchester High ranks #5 of 5 high schools in North Charleston, 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 North Charleston on the city page.
Is Fort Dorchester High a good school?
Fort Dorchester High earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina. 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 High, Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students), Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students), and Sand Hill Elementary (1,169 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.