- Enrollment
- 720
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · North Augusta, SC
Merriwether Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Merriwether Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450207000411
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merriwether Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 4
- schools in North Augusta · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 52.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Merriwether Elementary has class sizes larger than 70% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merriwether Elementary ranks #1 of 4 schools in North Augusta, SC.
School address
District: Edgefield 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450207000411 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Merriwether Elementary held near 770 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 49.5 → 51.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 450207000411 · North Augusta, SC Other · MID · TRAD
760 enr · 15.5:1 · 52.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Strom Thurmond High (720 students)
Merriwether Elementary held near 770 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 49.5 → 51.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Merriwether Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Merriwether Elementary
760 students
- Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond High
720 students
- Johnston-Edgef
Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle
394 students
- Merriwether Mi
Merriwether Middle
365 students
- W. E. Parker E
W. E. Parker Elementary
339 students
- Johnston Eleme 276
Johnston Elementary
276 students
What this shows Merriwether Elementary reports 760 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merriwether Elementary compares
Merriwether 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 | 15.5:1 | ▲ 8% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.0% | ▼ 30% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 760 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
760
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 70% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$16,107
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 380 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
27
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.5%
African American 17.2%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%
Two or More 7.1%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: White at 67.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.3, Merriwether Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Edgefield 01 reports $16,107 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merriwether Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strom Thurmond High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Merriwether Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| W. E. Parker Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Johnston Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merriwether Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 394
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 365
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 339
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 276
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar other schools in North Augusta
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~760 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merriwether Elementary
How many students attend Merriwether Elementary?
Merriwether Elementary has 760 students enrolled. It is a public school in North Augusta, SC. CCD year-over-year: 768 (2022-23) → 770 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merriwether Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Merriwether Elementary is 15.5:1, which is 8% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Merriwether Elementary?
52.0% of students at Merriwether Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merriwether Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Merriwether Elementary is White at 67.5% of enrollment, in North Augusta, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merriwether Elementary?
Merriwether Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Merriwether Elementary rank among schools in North Augusta?
By Resource Investment Index, Merriwether Elementary ranks #1 of 4 schools in North Augusta, 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 Augusta on the city page.
What other schools are in Edgefield 01?
Besides Merriwether Elementary, Edgefield 01 also operates Strom Thurmond High (720 students), Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle (394 students), and Merriwether Middle (365 students). See the Edgefield 01 district page for the complete list.