- Enrollment
- 2,605
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Charleston, SC
Philip Simmons High
Federal NCES profile for Philip Simmons High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450117001681
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Philip Simmons High earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Charleston · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- students per teacher
- 18.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Philip Simmons High has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Philip Simmons High ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Berkeley 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450117001681 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+38 students YoY
Philip Simmons High held near 809 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+38 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 53.2 → 55.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+38 students YoY 450117001681 · Charleston, SC High · MID · TRAD
797 enr · 15:1 · 18.0% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Stratford High (2,605 students)
Philip Simmons High held near 809 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+38 headcount). Teacher FTE added 53.2 → 55.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Philip Simmons High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Stratford High
Stratford High
2,605 students
- Cane Bay High
Cane Bay High
2,412 students
- Berkeley High
Berkeley High
2,047 students
- Goose Creek Hi
Goose Creek High
1,973 students
- Berkeley Middl
Berkeley Middle
1,477 students
- This school 797
Philip Simmons High
797 students
What this shows Philip Simmons High reports 797 students on the CCD universe file.
How Philip Simmons High compares
Philip Simmons High 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 | 15:1 | ▲ 5% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.0% | ▼ 76% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 797 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
797
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
18.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 76% 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
15:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 64% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.1%
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
$12,810
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 399 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
80
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 68.5%
African American 21.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.4%
Two or More 3.9%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 68.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.2, Philip Simmons High is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Berkeley 01 reports $12,810 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Philip Simmons High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cane Bay High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Berkeley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goose Creek High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Berkeley Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Philip Simmons High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,412
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,047
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,973
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,477
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar high schools in Charleston
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
West Ashley High
Standard public school
2,069 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
James Island Charter High
Standard public school
1,612 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Charleston Advancement Academy High School
Standard public school
424 students 38.5:1 students per teacher
Burke High
Standard public school
342 students 5.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~797 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15:1)
Frequently asked questions about Philip Simmons High
How many students attend Philip Simmons High?
Philip Simmons High has 797 students enrolled. It is a high school in Charleston, SC. CCD year-over-year: 771 (2022-23) → 809 (2023-24), nearly flat (+38).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Philip Simmons High?
The student-teacher ratio at Philip Simmons High is 15:1, which is 5% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Philip Simmons High?
18.0% of students at Philip Simmons High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Philip Simmons High?
The largest demographic group at Philip Simmons High is White at 68.5% of enrollment, in Charleston, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Philip Simmons High?
Philip Simmons High has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Philip Simmons High rank among high schools in Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, Philip Simmons High ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Charleston, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Charleston on the city page.
What other schools are in Berkeley 01?
Besides Philip Simmons High, Berkeley 01 also operates Stratford High (2,605 students), Cane Bay High (2,412 students), and Berkeley High (2,047 students). See the Berkeley 01 district page for the complete list.