- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Charleston, SC
James Island Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James Island Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450144000830
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Island Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of South Carolina schools.
- #20 of 21
- schools in Charleston · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.7:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 51.2%
- free-lunch eligible
James Island Elementary has class sizes larger than 72% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Island Elementary ranks #20 of 21 schools in Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Charleston 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450144000830 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+34 students YoY
James Island Elementary grew from 582 students in 2022-23 to 616 in 2023-24 (+5.8%).
Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 38.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+34 students YoY 450144000830 · Charleston, SC Other · MID · TRAD
580 enr · 15.7:1 · 51.2% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Wando High (2,588 students)
James Island Elementary grew from 582 students in 2022-23 to 616 in 2023-24 (+5.8%). Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 38.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
James Island Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Wando High
Wando High
2,588 students
- Rb Stall High
Rb Stall High
2,135 students
- West Ashley Hi
West Ashley High
2,069 students
- Lucy Garrett B
Lucy Garrett Beckham High
1,757 students
- James Island C
James Island Charter High
1,612 students
- This school 580
James Island Elementary
580 students
What this shows James Island Elementary reports 580 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Island Elementary compares
James Island Elementary is a growing 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 | 15.7:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.2% | ▼ 31% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 580 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
580
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% 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
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 72% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.1%
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
$16,635
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 580 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.0%
African American 26.2%
Two or More 4.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.3%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 65.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.6, James Island Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Charleston 01 reports $16,635 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James Island Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wando High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rb Stall High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Ashley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lucy Garrett Beckham High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| James Island Charter High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Island Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,135
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,069
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,757
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in Charleston
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Orange Grove Charter School
Standard public school
1,170 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Daniel Island School
Standard public school
1,151 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Stiles Point Elementary
Standard public school
866 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
St. Andrew's School of Math and Science
Standard public school
769 students 16:1 students per teacher
Springfield Elementary
Standard public school
679 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Drayton Hall Elementary
Standard public school
640 students 16:1 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 (~580 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about James Island Elementary
How many students attend James Island Elementary?
James Island Elementary has 580 students enrolled. It is a public school in Charleston, SC. CCD year-over-year: 582 (2022-23) → 616 (2023-24), up 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Island Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James Island Elementary is 15.7:1, which is 10% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Island Elementary?
51.2% of students at James Island Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Island Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James Island Elementary is White at 65.0% of enrollment, in Charleston, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Island Elementary?
James Island Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 James Island Elementary rank among schools in Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, James Island Elementary ranks #20 of 21 schools in Charleston, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Charleston on the city page.
What other schools are in Charleston 01?
Besides James Island Elementary, Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students), Rb Stall High (2,135 students), and West Ashley High (2,069 students). See the Charleston 01 district page for the complete list.