Enrollment
556
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
43.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.9:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Palmetto Bays Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Palmetto Bays Elementary
Palmetto Bays Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, enrolling 556 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.9:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 556 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 94% of the 1,214 South Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 375 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #5, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (43%) and Hispanic or Latino (34%) (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 222 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
15.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Myrtle Beach's public schools, it stands alongside River Oaks Elementary (1,426 students): Palmetto Bays Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.9:1 vs 18.1:1).
Horry 01 also operates Carolina Forest High (3,176 students) and St. James High (1,826 students) alongside Palmetto Bays Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Palmetto Bays Elementary compares
Palmetto Bays Elementary on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,785
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Horry 01, which includes Palmetto Bays Elementary.
$12,785
Per student
-12%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.9%
State 36.1%
Federal 16.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 3,176
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- 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
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~556 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Palmetto Bays Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Palmetto Bays Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Horry 01's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Palmetto Bays Elementary a good school?
Palmetto Bays Elementary earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.