- Enrollment
- 1,827
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gaffney, SC
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Luther L. Vaughan Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450150000282
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of South Carolina schools.
- #7 of 8
- schools in Gaffney · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.4:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary has class sizes smaller than 84% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Luther L. Vaughan Elementary ranks #7 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC.
School address
District: Cherokee 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450150000282 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary shrank from 419 students in 2022-23 to 397 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.5 → 33.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-22 students YoY 450150000282 · Gaffney, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
399 enr · 11.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Gaffney High (1,827 students)
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary shrank from 419 students in 2022-23 to 397 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 35.5 → 33.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Luther L. Vaughan 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 399
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
399 students
What this shows Luther L. Vaughan Elementary reports 399 students on the CCD universe file.
How Luther L. Vaughan Elementary compares
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 11.4:1 | ▼ 20% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 399 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.4:1
Leaner classes than 80% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
399
Bigger than 47% 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
11.4:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 16% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
48.4%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 399 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 47 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 40.4%
Hispanic or Latino 31.6%
White 25.3%
Two or More 2.8%
Largest group: African American at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.2, Luther L. Vaughan 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 Luther L. Vaughan 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 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blacksburg High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Luther L. Vaughan 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
Limestone-Central Elementary
Standard public school
436 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Northwest Elementary
Standard public school
423 students 15.1:1 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 (~399 students)
Frequently asked questions about Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
How many students attend Luther L. Vaughan Elementary?
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary has 399 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gaffney, SC. CCD year-over-year: 419 (2022-23) → 397 (2023-24), down 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Luther L. Vaughan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Luther L. Vaughan Elementary is 11.4:1, which is 20% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 27% 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 Luther L. Vaughan Elementary?
100.0% of students at Luther L. Vaughan Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Luther L. Vaughan Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Luther L. Vaughan Elementary is African American at 40.4% of enrollment, in Gaffney, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Luther L. Vaughan Elementary?
Luther L. Vaughan 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 Luther L. Vaughan Elementary rank among schools in Gaffney?
By Resource Investment Index, Luther L. Vaughan Elementary ranks #7 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 Luther L. Vaughan 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.