- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Joseph Keels Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Joseph Keels Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450339000970
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joseph Keels Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of South Carolina schools.
- #37 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.6:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Joseph Keels Elementary has class sizes smaller than 82% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph Keels Elementary ranks #37 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339000970 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+40 students YoY
Joseph Keels Elementary grew from 438 students in 2022-23 to 478 in 2023-24 (+9.1%).
Teacher FTE added 40.4 → 43.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+40 students YoY 450339000970 · Columbia, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
465 enr · 11.6:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring Valley High (2,230 students)
Joseph Keels Elementary grew from 438 students in 2022-23 to 478 in 2023-24 (+9.1%). Teacher FTE added 40.4 → 43.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Joseph Keels Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Spring Valley
Spring Valley High
2,230 students
- Blythewood Hig
Blythewood High
2,164 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High
1,743 students
- Ridge View Hig
Ridge View High
1,631 students
- Richland North
Richland Northeast High
1,340 students
- This school 465
Joseph Keels Elementary
465 students
What this shows Joseph Keels Elementary reports 465 students on the CCD universe file.
How Joseph Keels Elementary compares
Joseph Keels 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 | 11.6:1 | ▼ 19% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 465 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.6:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
465
Bigger than 57% 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
11.6:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 18% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
35.3%
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
$14,024
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 465 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 47 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 84.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%
Two or More 4.2%
White 1.5%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: African American at 84.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.3, Joseph Keels Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 02 reports $14,024 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Joseph Keels Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blythewood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge View High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richland Northeast High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joseph Keels Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,164
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,743
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,631
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,340
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~465 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joseph Keels Elementary
How many students attend Joseph Keels Elementary?
Joseph Keels Elementary has 465 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 438 (2022-23) → 478 (2023-24), up 40.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph Keels Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph Keels Elementary is 11.6:1, which is 19% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 26% 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 Joseph Keels Elementary?
100.0% of students at Joseph Keels Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joseph Keels Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Joseph Keels Elementary is African American at 84.0% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joseph Keels Elementary?
Joseph Keels Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Joseph Keels Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph Keels Elementary ranks #37 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 02?
Besides Joseph Keels Elementary, Richland 02 also operates Spring Valley High (2,230 students), Blythewood High (2,164 students), and Westwood High (1,743 students). See the Richland 02 district page for the complete list.