Enrollment
541
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
L. B. Nelson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for L. B. Nelson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450339000971
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
L. B. Nelson Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of South Carolina schools.
- #29 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.6:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 76.0%
- free-lunch eligible
L. B. Nelson Elementary has class sizes smaller than 71% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, L. B. Nelson Elementary ranks #29 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339000971 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
43.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.6:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
76.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How L. B. Nelson Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at L. B. Nelson Elementary
L. B. Nelson Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 541 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 76.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 541 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 117 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #66.
Its student body is led by African American (70%) and White (10%) (diversity index 48/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 541 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Columbia's public schools, it stands alongside Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students): L. B. Nelson Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.6:1 vs 27.8:1).
Richland 02 also operates Spring Valley High (2,230 students) and Blythewood High (2,164 students) alongside L. B. Nelson 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 L. B. Nelson Elementary compares
L. B. Nelson 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 12% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.0% | ▲ 3% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 541 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
541
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
76.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 29% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.9%
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
$13,517
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 541 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.5 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
African American 70.2%
White 10.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.2%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 70.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.1, L. B. Nelson 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 Richland 02, which includes L. B. Nelson Elementary.
$13,517
Per student
-7%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.0%
State 47.7%
Federal 10.3%
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 L. B. Nelson 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to L. B. Nelson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- 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
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 (~541 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on L. B. Nelson Elementary's federal record.
- Compare L. B. Nelson Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Richland 02'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 L. B. Nelson Elementary
How many students attend L. B. Nelson Elementary?
L. B. Nelson Elementary has 541 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at L. B. Nelson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at L. B. Nelson Elementary is 12.6:1, which is 12% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 20% 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 L. B. Nelson Elementary?
76.0% of students at L. B. Nelson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of L. B. Nelson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at L. B. Nelson Elementary is African American at 70.2% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for L. B. Nelson Elementary?
L. B. Nelson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 L. B. Nelson Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, L. B. Nelson Elementary ranks #29 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.
Is L. B. Nelson Elementary a good school?
L. B. Nelson Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% 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 Richland 02?
Besides L. B. Nelson 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.
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.