- Enrollment
- 2,536
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Pelion, SC
Forts Pond Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Forts Pond Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450270001514
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forts Pond Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Pelion · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.6:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Forts Pond Elementary has class sizes smaller than 71% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forts Pond Elementary ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Pelion, SC.
School address
District: Lexington 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450270001514 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+37 students YoY
Forts Pond Elementary grew from 468 students in 2022-23 to 505 in 2023-24 (+7.9%).
Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 43.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+37 students YoY 450270001514 · Pelion, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
478 enr · 12.6:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Lexington High (2,536 students)
Forts Pond Elementary grew from 468 students in 2022-23 to 505 in 2023-24 (+7.9%). Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 43.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Forts Pond Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lexington High
Lexington High
2,536 students
- River Bluff Hi
River Bluff High
2,117 students
- White Knoll Hi
White Knoll High
2,025 students
- Gilbert High
Gilbert High
1,138 students
- Beechwood Midd
Beechwood Middle
1,033 students
- This school 478
Forts Pond Elementary
478 students
What this shows Forts Pond Elementary reports 478 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forts Pond Elementary compares
Forts Pond Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 12% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 478 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
478
Bigger than 59% 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
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 29% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.8%
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
$13,591
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 239 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.0%
Hispanic or Latino 23.8%
African American 8.4%
Two or More 7.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 60.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.1, Forts Pond Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lexington 01 reports $13,591 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Forts Pond Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| River Bluff High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| White Knoll High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gilbert High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beechwood Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forts Pond Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,117
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,025
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,138
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,033
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Pelion
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~478 students)
Frequently asked questions about Forts Pond Elementary
How many students attend Forts Pond Elementary?
Forts Pond Elementary has 478 students enrolled. It is a public school in Pelion, SC. CCD year-over-year: 468 (2022-23) → 505 (2023-24), up 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forts Pond Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Forts Pond Elementary is 12.6:1, which is 12% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 20% 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 Forts Pond Elementary?
100.0% of students at Forts Pond Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forts Pond Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Forts Pond Elementary is White at 60.0% of enrollment, in Pelion, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forts Pond Elementary?
Forts Pond 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 Forts Pond Elementary rank among public schools in Pelion?
By Resource Investment Index, Forts Pond Elementary ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Pelion, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Lexington 01?
Besides Forts Pond Elementary, Lexington 01 also operates Lexington High (2,536 students), River Bluff High (2,117 students), and White Knoll High (2,025 students). See the Lexington 01 district page for the complete list.