Enrollment
580
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
51.2%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-31% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Island Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Island Elementary
James Island Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Charleston, South Carolina, enrolling 580 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.7:1 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 51.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 580 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Among 142 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #118, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (65%) and African American (26%) (diversity index 51/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 580 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 23.1% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Charleston's public schools, it stands alongside Orange Grove Charter School (1,170 students): James Island Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.7:1 vs 15.8:1).
Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students) and Rb Stall High (2,135 students) alongside James Island Elementary.
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 Island Elementary compares
James Island Elementary 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$15,213
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $14,558
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charleston 01, which includes James Island Elementary.
$15,213
Per student
+4%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 59.0%
State 27.7%
Federal 13.3%
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 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
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- 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
Similar other 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 (~580 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Island Elementary's federal record.
- Compare James Island Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Charleston 01'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 Island Elementary
How many students attend James Island Elementary?
James Island Elementary has 580 students enrolled. It is a public school in Charleston, SC.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is James Island Elementary a good school?
James Island Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of South Carolina schools. 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 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.
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.