- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
L. B. Nelson Elementary held near 553 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 43.5 → 44.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 450339000971 · Columbia, SC Other · MID · TRAD
541 enr · 12.6:1 · 76.0% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring Valley High (2,230 students)
L. B. Nelson Elementary held near 553 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 43.5 → 44.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
L. B. Nelson 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 541
L. B. Nelson Elementary
541 students
What this shows L. B. Nelson Elementary reports 541 students on the CCD universe file.
How L. B. Nelson Elementary compares
L. B. Nelson Elementary 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 | 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 methodology
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
$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 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.
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
District finance for Richland 02 reports $14,024 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 2,164
- 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 (~541 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 567 (2022-23) → 553 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.