- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
J. P. Thomas Elementary
Federal NCES profile for J. P. Thomas Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450336000933
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. P. Thomas Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of South Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #9 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.5:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
J. P. Thomas Elementary has class sizes smaller than 83% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. P. Thomas Elementary ranks #9 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000933 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
J. P. Thomas Elementary shrank from 323 students in 2022-23 to 302 in 2023-24 (-6.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-21 students YoY 450336000933 · Columbia, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
346 enr · 11.5:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
J. P. Thomas Elementary shrank from 323 students in 2022-23 to 302 in 2023-24 (-6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
J. P. Thomas Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school 346
J. P. Thomas Elementary
346 students
What this shows J. P. Thomas Elementary reports 346 students on the CCD universe file.
How J. P. Thomas Elementary compares
J. P. Thomas 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 | 11.5:1 | ▼ 20% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 346 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.5:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
346
Bigger than 39% 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
11.5:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 17% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
24.9%
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
$18,992
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 346 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
30
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 86.1%
Two or More 5.8%
White 4.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 86.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.3, J. P. Thomas Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How J. P. Thomas Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. P. Thomas Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
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 (~346 students)
Frequently asked questions about J. P. Thomas Elementary
How many students attend J. P. Thomas Elementary?
J. P. Thomas Elementary has 346 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 323 (2022-23) → 302 (2023-24), down 21.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. P. Thomas Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J. P. Thomas Elementary is 11.5:1, which is 20% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 27% 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. P. Thomas Elementary?
100.0% of students at J. P. Thomas Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. P. Thomas Elementary?
The largest demographic group at J. P. Thomas Elementary is African American at 86.1% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. P. Thomas Elementary?
J. P. Thomas 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 J. P. Thomas Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, J. P. Thomas 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 Richland 01?
Besides J. P. Thomas Elementary, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.