- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · North Charleston, SC
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center
Federal NCES profile for Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450144000202
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of South Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #5 of 18
- schools in North Charleston · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.2:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center has class sizes smaller than 91% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center ranks #5 of 18 schools in North Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Charleston 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450144000202 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-35 students YoY
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center shrank from 294 students in 2022-23 to 259 in 2023-24 (-11.9%).
Teacher FTE added 24.2 → 26.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-35 students YoY 450144000202 · North Charleston, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
244 enr · 10.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Wando High (2,588 students)
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center shrank from 294 students in 2022-23 to 259 in 2023-24 (-11.9%). Teacher FTE added 24.2 → 26.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Wando High
Wando High
2,588 students
- Rb Stall High
Rb Stall High
2,135 students
- West Ashley Hi
West Ashley High
2,069 students
- Lucy Garrett B
Lucy Garrett Beckham High
1,757 students
- James Island C
James Island Charter High
1,612 students
- This school 244
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center
244 students
What this shows Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center reports 244 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center compares
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center 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 | 10.2:1 | ▼ 29% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 244 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
244
Bigger than 25% 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
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 9% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
16.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$16,635
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 244 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 87.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
Two or More 4.5%
White 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 87.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.4, Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
District finance for Charleston 01 reports $16,635 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wando High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rb Stall High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Ashley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lucy Garrett Beckham High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| James Island Charter High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,135
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,069
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,757
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in North Charleston
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Meeting Street Elementary
Standard public school
1,133 students 8.1:1 students per teacher
Charleston School of the Arts
Standard public school
1,102 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
A. C. Corcoran Elementary
Standard public school
743 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Eagle Nest Elementary
Standard public school
653 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary
Standard public school
622 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Lambs Elementary
Standard public school
580 students 17.6:1 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 (~244 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center
How many students attend Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center?
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center has 244 students enrolled. It is a public school in North Charleston, SC. CCD year-over-year: 294 (2022-23) → 259 (2023-24), down 35.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center is 10.2:1, which is 29% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 35% 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 Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center?
100.0% of students at Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center?
The largest demographic group at Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center is African American at 87.7% of enrollment, in North Charleston, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center?
Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center rank among schools in North Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center ranks #5 of 18 schools in North Charleston, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in North Charleston on the city page.
What other schools are in Charleston 01?
Besides Mary Ford Early Childhood Learning and Family Center, Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students), Rb Stall High (2,135 students), and West Ashley High (2,069 students). See the Charleston 01 district page for the complete list.