Enrollment
2,391
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Duncan, SC
James F. Byrnes High
Federal NCES profile for James F. Byrnes High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450360001022
👥 S:T ratio 18
📚 AP courses 75
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James F. Byrnes High earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina.
- #6 of 7
- public schools in Duncan · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.4:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 47.1%
- free-lunch eligible
James F. Byrnes High has class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James F. Byrnes High ranks #6 of 7 public schools in Duncan, SC.
School address
District: Spartanburg 05 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450360001022 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
117.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.4:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+43% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.1%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James F. Byrnes High compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at James F. Byrnes High
James F. Byrnes High is a large high school in Duncan, South Carolina, enrolling 2,391 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.4:1 is larger than about 97% of South Carolina schools and 43% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 47.1% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,391 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 34 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #17.
Its student body is led by White (51%) and African American (22%) (diversity index 66/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 15 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 399 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
17.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Spartanburg 05 spends $11,544 per pupil, 21% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 21 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Duncan's high schools, it stands alongside James Byrnes Freshman Academy (792 students): James F. Byrnes High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.4:1 vs 17.6:1).
Spartanburg 05 also operates Berry Shoals Intermediate (902 students) and Abner Creek Academy (807 students) alongside James F. Byrnes High.
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 James F. Byrnes High compares
James F. Byrnes High 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 | 20.4:1 | ▲ 43% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.1% | ▼ 36% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,391 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,391
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below 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
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 43% above state mean
Top 97% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
17.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,544
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
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 399 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
259
in-school suspensions + 142 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 21 expulsions.
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 50.8%
African American 21.7%
Hispanic or Latino 18.2%
Two or More 6.9%
Asian 2.3%
Largest group: White at 50.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.6, James F. Byrnes High is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Spartanburg 05, which includes James F. Byrnes High.
$11,544
Per student
-21%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 49.7%
State 41.9%
Federal 8.4%
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 James F. Byrnes High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berry Shoals Intermediate | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Abner Creek Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| James Byrnes Freshman Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Florence Chapel Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| River Ridge Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James F. Byrnes High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 902
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 807
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 781
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 770
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar high schools in Duncan
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high 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 (~2,391 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James F. Byrnes High's federal record.
- Compare James F. Byrnes High against another school. Compare schools
- Spartanburg 05'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 James F. Byrnes High
How many students attend James F. Byrnes High?
James F. Byrnes High has 2,391 students enrolled. It is a high school in Duncan, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James F. Byrnes High?
The student-teacher ratio at James F. Byrnes High is 20.4:1, which is 43% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 30% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James F. Byrnes High?
47.1% of students at James F. Byrnes High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James F. Byrnes High?
The largest demographic group at James F. Byrnes High is White at 50.8% of enrollment, in Duncan, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James F. Byrnes High?
James F. Byrnes High has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 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 James F. Byrnes High rank among public schools in Duncan?
By Resource Investment Index, James F. Byrnes High ranks #6 of 7 public schools in Duncan, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Duncan on the city page.
Is James F. Byrnes High a good school?
James F. Byrnes High earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina. 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 Spartanburg 05?
Besides James F. Byrnes High, Spartanburg 05 also operates Berry Shoals Intermediate (902 students), Abner Creek Academy (807 students), and James Byrnes Freshman Academy (792 students). See the Spartanburg 05 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.