- Enrollment
- 1,703
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Harbison West Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Harbison West Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450282001345
👥 S:T ratio 61
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Harbison West Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of South Carolina schools.
- #9 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.8:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Harbison West Elementary has class sizes smaller than 92% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Harbison West Elementary ranks #9 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Lexington 05 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450282001345 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-43 students YoY
Harbison West Elementary shrank from 550 students in 2022-23 to 507 in 2023-24 (-7.8%).
Teacher FTE added 52.8 → 56.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-43 students YoY 450282001345 · Columbia, SC Other · MID · TRAD
510 enr · 9.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Dutch Fork High (1,703 students)
Harbison West Elementary shrank from 550 students in 2022-23 to 507 in 2023-24 (-7.8%). Teacher FTE added 52.8 → 56.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Harbison West Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dutch Fork Hig
Dutch Fork High
1,703 students
- Chapin High
Chapin High
1,617 students
- Irmo High
Irmo High
1,272 students
- Spring Hill Hi
Spring Hill High
1,118 students
- Chapin Middle
Chapin Middle
1,007 students
- This school 510
Harbison West Elementary
510 students
What this shows Harbison West Elementary reports 510 students on the CCD universe file.
How Harbison West Elementary compares
Harbison West Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 9.8:1 | ▼ 31% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 510 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.8:1
Leaner classes than 90% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
510
Bigger than 63% 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
9.8:1
students per teacher
- 31% below state mean
Top 8% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
14.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$14,799
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 510 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 37 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 55.9%
White 22.4%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Two or More 8.0%
Asian 3.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 55.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, Harbison West Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lexington 05 reports $14,799 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Harbison West Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch Fork High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chapin High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Irmo High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spring Hill High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chapin Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Harbison West Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,617
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,118
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 1,007
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar other schools in Columbia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sc Connections Academy
Standard public school
6,152 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Brennen Elementary
Standard public school
805 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Rice Creek Elementary
Standard public school
718 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Caughman Road Elementary
Standard public school
715 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Killian Elementary
Standard public school
699 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Sandlapper Elementary
Standard public school
671 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~510 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~9.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Harbison West Elementary
How many students attend Harbison West Elementary?
Harbison West Elementary has 510 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 550 (2022-23) → 507 (2023-24), down 43.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harbison West Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Harbison West Elementary is 9.8:1, which is 31% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 38% 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 Harbison West Elementary?
100.0% of students at Harbison West Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Harbison West Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Harbison West Elementary is African American at 55.9% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Harbison West Elementary?
Harbison West Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical 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 Harbison West Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Harbison West Elementary ranks #9 of 43 schools in 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 Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Lexington 05?
Besides Harbison West Elementary, Lexington 05 also operates Dutch Fork High (1,703 students), Chapin High (1,617 students), and Irmo High (1,272 students). See the Lexington 05 district page for the complete list.