- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Charleston, SC
James Simons Montessori
Federal NCES profile for James Simons Montessori, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450144000228
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 73
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Simons Montessori earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of South Carolina schools.
- #11 of 21
- schools in Charleston · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.7:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
James Simons Montessori 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 Simons Montessori ranks #11 of 21 schools in Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Charleston 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450144000228 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+11 students YoY
James Simons Montessori held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+11 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.6 → 24.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+11 students YoY 450144000228 · Charleston, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
392 enr · 15.7:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Wando High (2,588 students)
James Simons Montessori held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+11 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.6 → 24.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
James Simons Montessori 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 392
James Simons Montessori
392 students
What this shows James Simons Montessori reports 392 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Simons Montessori compares
James Simons Montessori 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 | 15.7:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 392 | top 72% | - | - |
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.
392
Bigger than 46% 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
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
10.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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 392 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.9%
African American 28.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: White at 55.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.6, James Simons Montessori is more 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 Simons Montessori 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Ashley High | Larger | Similar 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 Simons Montessori'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 (~392 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about James Simons Montessori
How many students attend James Simons Montessori?
James Simons Montessori has 392 students enrolled. It is a public school in Charleston, SC. CCD year-over-year: 360 (2022-23) → 371 (2023-24), nearly flat (+11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Simons Montessori?
The student-teacher ratio at James Simons Montessori 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 Simons Montessori?
100.0% of students at James Simons Montessori are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Simons Montessori?
The largest demographic group at James Simons Montessori is White at 55.9% of enrollment, in Charleston, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Simons Montessori?
James Simons Montessori has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher 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 Simons Montessori rank among schools in Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, James Simons Montessori ranks #11 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 Simons Montessori, 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.