- Enrollment
- 1,672
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbia, SC
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy
Federal NCES profile for Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 450390101743Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 67
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 97% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.3:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 36.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy has class sizes smaller than 97% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Sc Public Charter School District · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390101743 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy shrank from 231 students in 2022-23 to 198 in 2023-24 (-14.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 26.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 450390101743 · Columbia, SC Elementary · SMALL · CHARTER
216 enr · 8.3:1 · 36.4% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: York Preparatory Academy (1,672 students)
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy shrank from 231 students in 2022-23 to 198 in 2023-24 (-14.3%). Teacher FTE lost 26.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- York Preparato
York Preparatory Academy
1,672 students
- Legacy Early C
Legacy Early College
1,592 students
- Bridges Prepar
Bridges Preparatory School
1,472 students
- High Point Aca
High Point Academy
1,208 students
- Green Charter
Green Charter School
998 students
- This school 216
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy
216 students
What this shows Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy reports 216 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy compares
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy 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 | 8.3:1 | ▼ 42% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.4% | ▼ 51% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 216 | top 90% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.3:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
216
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% below the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8.3:1
students per teacher
- 42% below state mean
Top 3% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 97% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
19.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$23,863
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 49.1%
African American 41.2%
Two or More 4.6%
Hispanic or Latino 4.2%
Asian 0.9%
Largest group: White at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.5, Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
District finance for Sc Public Charter School District reports $23,863 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| York Preparatory Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Legacy Early College | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bridges Preparatory School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| High Point Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Green Charter School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,592
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,472
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,208
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 998
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbia
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
E. L. Wright Middle
Standard public school
1,275 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Summit Parkway Middle
Standard public school
1,229 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Satchel Ford Elementary
Standard public school
721 students 16:1 students per teacher
Rosewood Elementary
Standard public school
338 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~216 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy
How many students attend Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy has 216 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 231 (2022-23) → 198 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy is 8.3:1, which is 42% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 47% 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 Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?
36.4% of students at Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?
The largest demographic group at Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy is White at 49.1% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy rank among elementary schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Sc Public Charter School District?
Besides Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy, Sc Public Charter School District also operates York Preparatory Academy (1,672 students), Legacy Early College (1,592 students), and Bridges Preparatory School (1,472 students). See the Sc Public Charter School District district page for the complete list.