- Enrollment
- 3,176
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Myrtle Beach, SC
Palmetto Bays Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Palmetto Bays Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450249000747
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmetto Bays Elementary earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #2 of 10
- schools in Myrtle Beach · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmetto Bays Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmetto Bays Elementary ranks #2 of 10 schools in Myrtle Beach, SC.
School address
District: Horry 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450249000747 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-25 students YoY
Palmetto Bays Elementary held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 43.0 → 45.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-25 students YoY 450249000747 · Myrtle Beach, SC Other · MID · TRAD
556 enr · 12.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Carolina Forest High (3,176 students)
Palmetto Bays Elementary held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount). Teacher FTE added 43.0 → 45.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Palmetto Bays Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carolina Fores
Carolina Forest High
3,176 students
- St. James High
St. James High
1,826 students
- Conway High
Conway High
1,724 students
- Socastee High
Socastee High
1,720 students
- North Myrtle B
North Myrtle Beach High
1,673 students
- This school 556
Palmetto Bays Elementary
556 students
What this shows Palmetto Bays Elementary reports 556 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmetto Bays Elementary compares
Palmetto Bays 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 556 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
556
Bigger than 68% 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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 33% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
15.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,222
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
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 222 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
31
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 42.6%
Hispanic or Latino 34.0%
African American 12.2%
Two or More 9.7%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 42.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, Palmetto Bays Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Horry 01 reports $13,222 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palmetto Bays Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. James High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Conway High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Socastee High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Myrtle Beach High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmetto Bays Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,826
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,673
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Myrtle Beach
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
River Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
1,426 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Carolina Forest Elementary
Standard public school
1,336 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Ocean Bay Elementary
Standard public school
1,181 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Forestbrook Elementary
Standard public school
930 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
St. James Elementary
Standard public school
884 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Lakewood Elementary
Standard public school
866 students 15.2:1 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 (~556 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palmetto Bays Elementary
How many students attend Palmetto Bays Elementary?
Palmetto Bays Elementary has 556 students enrolled. It is a public school in Myrtle Beach, SC. CCD year-over-year: 594 (2022-23) → 569 (2023-24), nearly flat (-25).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmetto Bays Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmetto Bays Elementary is 12.9:1, which is 10% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 18% 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 Bays Elementary?
100.0% of students at Palmetto Bays Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmetto Bays Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Palmetto Bays Elementary is White at 42.6% of enrollment, in Myrtle Beach, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmetto Bays Elementary?
Palmetto Bays Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (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 Palmetto Bays Elementary rank among schools in Myrtle Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmetto Bays Elementary ranks #2 of 10 schools in Myrtle Beach, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Myrtle Beach on the city page.
What other schools are in Horry 01?
Besides Palmetto Bays Elementary, Horry 01 also operates Carolina Forest High (3,176 students), St. James High (1,826 students), and Conway High (1,724 students). See the Horry 01 district page for the complete list.