Enrollment
935
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · West Columbia, SC
Gray Collegiate Academy
Federal NCES profile for Gray Collegiate Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390901650Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 92
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gray Collegiate Academy earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 6
- schools in West Columbia · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 24:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 10.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Gray Collegiate Academy has class sizes larger than 99% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gray Collegiate Academy ranks #1 of 6 schools in West Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Charter Institute at Erskine · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390901650 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+68% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
10.7%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-86% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gray Collegiate Academy compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gray Collegiate Academy
Gray Collegiate Academy is a lower-poverty, large charter combined-grade school in West Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 935 students.
Class loads run heavy: 24:1 is larger than about 99% of South Carolina schools and 68% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 10.7% free-meal eligibility runs 86% below the South Carolina average.
Enrollment of 935 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 66 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #15.
Its student body is led by White (71%) and African American (16%) (diversity index 46/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 234 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance holds up well here: only 3.4% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Charter Institute at Erskine spends $6,927 per pupil, 52% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among West Columbia's public schools, it stands alongside South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students): Gray Collegiate Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (24:1 vs 15.8:1).
Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students) and Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students) alongside Gray Collegiate Academy.
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 Gray Collegiate Academy compares
Gray Collegiate Academy 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 | 24:1 | ▲ 68% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.7% | ▼ 86% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 935 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
935
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
10.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 86% below the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
24:1
students per teacher
- 68% above state mean
Top 99% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
3.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$6,927
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 234 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 71.3%
African American 16.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%
Two or More 5.1%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: White at 71.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.8, Gray Collegiate Academy is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charter Institute at Erskine, which includes Gray Collegiate Academy.
$6,927
Per student
-52%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-58%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 2.7%
State 85.8%
Federal 11.5%
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 Gray Collegiate Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sc Connections Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cyber Academy of South Carolina | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mevers School of Excellence | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Berkeley Preparatory Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gray Collegiate Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 6,152
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 3,280
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 764
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in West Columbia
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
South Carolina Virtual Charter School
Standard public school
2,180 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Riverbank Elementary
Standard public school
996 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Herbert a. Wood Elementary
Standard public school
938 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
White Knoll Elementary
Standard public school
615 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Springdale Elementary
Standard public school
443 students 15.3:1 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 (~935 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gray Collegiate Academy's federal record.
- Compare Gray Collegiate Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Charter Institute at Erskine'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 Gray Collegiate Academy
How many students attend Gray Collegiate Academy?
Gray Collegiate Academy has 935 students enrolled. It is a public school in West Columbia, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gray Collegiate Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Gray Collegiate Academy is 24:1, which is 68% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 53% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gray Collegiate Academy?
10.7% of students at Gray Collegiate Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gray Collegiate Academy?
The largest demographic group at Gray Collegiate Academy is White at 71.3% of enrollment, in West Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gray Collegiate Academy?
Gray Collegiate Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 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 Gray Collegiate Academy rank among schools in West Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Gray Collegiate Academy ranks #1 of 6 schools in West Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in West Columbia on the city page.
Is Gray Collegiate Academy a good school?
Gray Collegiate Academy earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of South Carolina schools. 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 Charter Institute at Erskine?
Besides Gray Collegiate Academy, Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students), Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students), and South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students). See the Charter Institute at Erskine district page for the complete list.
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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.