- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · North Charleston, SC
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Matilda F. Dunston Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450144000224
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of South Carolina schools.
- #18 of 18
- schools in North Charleston · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.7:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary has class sizes larger than 82% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Matilda F. Dunston Elementary ranks #18 of 18 schools in North Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Charleston 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450144000224 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+55 students YoY
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary grew from 436 students in 2022-23 to 491 in 2023-24 (+12.6%).
Teacher FTE held 34.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+55 students YoY 450144000224 · North Charleston, SC Other · MID · TRAD
569 enr · 16.7:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Wando High (2,588 students)
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary grew from 436 students in 2022-23 to 491 in 2023-24 (+12.6%). Teacher FTE held 34.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary 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 569
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary
569 students
What this shows Matilda F. Dunston Elementary reports 569 students on the CCD universe file.
How Matilda F. Dunston Elementary compares
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary is a growing 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 | 16.7:1 | ▲ 17% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 569 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
569
Bigger than 70% 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
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 82% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
34.4%
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
$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 569 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 63.6%
African American 25.8%
White 6.3%
Two or More 3.9%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.3, Matilda F. Dunston Elementary is about as mixed as the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Charleston 01 reports $16,635 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Matilda F. Dunston Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wando High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rb Stall High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar 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 | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Matilda F. Dunston Elementary'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 (~569 students)
Frequently asked questions about Matilda F. Dunston Elementary
How many students attend Matilda F. Dunston Elementary?
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary has 569 students enrolled. It is a public school in North Charleston, SC. CCD year-over-year: 436 (2022-23) → 491 (2023-24), up 55.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Matilda F. Dunston Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Matilda F. Dunston Elementary is 16.7:1, which is 17% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Matilda F. Dunston Elementary?
100.0% of students at Matilda F. Dunston Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Matilda F. Dunston Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Matilda F. Dunston Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 63.6% of enrollment, in North Charleston, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Matilda F. Dunston Elementary?
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Matilda F. Dunston Elementary rank among schools in North Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, Matilda F. Dunston Elementary ranks #18 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 Matilda F. Dunston Elementary, 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.