- Enrollment
- 1,129
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Darlington, SC
J. L. Cain Elementary
Federal NCES profile for J. L. Cain Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450186001749
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. L. Cain Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Darlington · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
J. L. Cain Elementary has class sizes smaller than 74% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. L. Cain Elementary ranks #2 of 3 schools in Darlington, SC.
School address
District: Darlington 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450186001749 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
J. L. Cain Elementary held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 43.0 → 40.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+18 students YoY 450186001749 · Darlington, SC Other · MID · TRAD
533 enr · 12.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Hartsville High (1,129 students)
J. L. Cain Elementary held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 43.0 → 40.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
J. L. Cain Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hartsville Hig
Hartsville High
1,129 students
- Darlington Hig
Darlington High
965 students
- Darlington Mid
Darlington Middle
888 students
- Hartsville Mid
Hartsville Middle
801 students
- St. John's Ele
St. John's Elementary
596 students
- This school
J. L. Cain Elementary
533 students
What this shows J. L. Cain Elementary reports 533 students on the CCD universe file.
How J. L. Cain Elementary compares
J. L. Cain Elementary 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 | 12.4:1 | ▼ 13% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 533 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
533
Bigger than 66% 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
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 26% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
37.1%
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
$17,420
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 533 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 152 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 71.9%
White 16.5%
Two or More 8.1%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 71.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.8, J. L. Cain Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Darlington 01 reports $17,420 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How J. L. Cain Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Darlington High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Darlington Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hartsville Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| St. John's Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. L. Cain Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 888
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 801
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 596
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Darlington
2 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 (~533 students)
Frequently asked questions about J. L. Cain Elementary
How many students attend J. L. Cain Elementary?
J. L. Cain Elementary has 533 students enrolled. It is a public school in Darlington, SC. CCD year-over-year: 551 (2022-23) → 569 (2023-24), nearly flat (+18).
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. L. Cain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J. L. Cain Elementary is 12.4:1, which is 13% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 21% 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 J. L. Cain Elementary?
100.0% of students at J. L. Cain Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. L. Cain Elementary?
The largest demographic group at J. L. Cain Elementary is African American at 71.9% of enrollment, in Darlington, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. L. Cain Elementary?
J. L. Cain Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 J. L. Cain Elementary rank among schools in Darlington?
By Resource Investment Index, J. L. Cain Elementary ranks #2 of 3 schools in Darlington, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Darlington on the city page.
What other schools are in Darlington 01?
Besides J. L. Cain Elementary, Darlington 01 also operates Hartsville High (1,129 students), Darlington High (965 students), and Darlington Middle (888 students). See the Darlington 01 district page for the complete list.