- Enrollment
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
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 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450201000007
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 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 29/100 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
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Fort Dorchester High held near 2,301 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 129.0 → 137.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 450201000007 · North Charleston, SC High · LARGE · TRAD
2,344 enr · 18.2:1 · 55.0% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Summerville High (3,361 students)
Fort Dorchester High held near 2,301 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE added 129.0 → 137.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Fort Dorchester High 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
- This school
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
- East Edisto Mi 1,031
East Edisto Middle
1,031 students
What this shows Fort Dorchester High reports 2,344 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fort Dorchester High compares
Fort Dorchester High 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 | 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 methodology
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
$11,212
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
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.
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
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 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
- 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
Nationwide high 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 (~2,344 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.2:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 2,312 (2022-23) → 2,301 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
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 29/100 (lower 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 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.
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.