- Enrollment
- 1,827
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gaffney, SC
Limestone-Central Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Limestone-Central Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450150000287
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Limestone-Central Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 8
- schools in Gaffney · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.8:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Limestone-Central Elementary has class sizes smaller than 81% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Limestone-Central Elementary ranks #1 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC.
School address
District: Cherokee 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450150000287 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Limestone-Central Elementary held near 475 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.8 → 36.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 450150000287 · Gaffney, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
436 enr · 11.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Gaffney High (1,827 students)
Limestone-Central Elementary held near 475 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.8 → 36.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Limestone-Central Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gaffney High
Gaffney High
1,827 students
- Gaffney Middle
Gaffney Middle
851 students
- B. D. Lee Elem 603
B. D. Lee Elementary
603 students
- Grassy Pond El 519
Grassy Pond Elementary
519 students
- Blacksburg Hig 482
Blacksburg High
482 students
- This school 436
Limestone-Central Elementary
436 students
What this shows Limestone-Central Elementary reports 436 students on the CCD universe file.
How Limestone-Central Elementary compares
Limestone-Central 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 | 11.8:1 | ▼ 17% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 436 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
436
Bigger than 53% 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
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 19% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.1%
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
$13,668
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 218 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
49
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 46.3%
African American 38.1%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
Two or More 5.0%
Asian 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 46.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.8, Limestone-Central Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cherokee 01 reports $13,668 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Limestone-Central Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gaffney Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| B. D. Lee Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grassy Pond Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blacksburg High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Limestone-Central Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 851
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 603
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 482
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Gaffney
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cherokee Charter School
Standard public school
633 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
B. D. Lee Elementary
Standard public school
603 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Grassy Pond Elementary
Standard public school
519 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Northwest Elementary
Standard public school
423 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
Standard public school
399 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Corinth Elementary
Standard public school
292 students 10.8:1 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 (~436 students)
Frequently asked questions about Limestone-Central Elementary
How many students attend Limestone-Central Elementary?
Limestone-Central Elementary has 436 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gaffney, SC. CCD year-over-year: 490 (2022-23) → 475 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Limestone-Central Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Limestone-Central Elementary is 11.8:1, which is 17% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 25% 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 Limestone-Central Elementary?
100.0% of students at Limestone-Central Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Limestone-Central Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Limestone-Central Elementary is White at 46.3% of enrollment, in Gaffney, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Limestone-Central Elementary?
Limestone-Central Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (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 Limestone-Central Elementary rank among schools in Gaffney?
By Resource Investment Index, Limestone-Central Elementary ranks #1 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gaffney on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherokee 01?
Besides Limestone-Central Elementary, Cherokee 01 also operates Gaffney High (1,827 students), Gaffney Middle (851 students), and B. D. Lee Elementary (603 students). See the Cherokee 01 district page for the complete list.