- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Polo Road Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Polo Road Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450339001076
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Polo Road Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #33 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.8:1
- students per teacher
- 79.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Polo Road Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Polo Road Elementary ranks #33 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339001076 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+55 students YoY
Polo Road Elementary grew from 604 students in 2022-23 to 659 in 2023-24 (+9.1%).
Teacher FTE added 52.2 → 58.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+55 students YoY 450339001076 · Columbia, SC Other · MID · TRAD
665 enr · 12.8:1 · 79.3% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring Valley High (2,230 students)
Polo Road Elementary grew from 604 students in 2022-23 to 659 in 2023-24 (+9.1%). Teacher FTE added 52.2 → 58.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Polo Road Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Spring Valley
Spring Valley High
2,230 students
- Blythewood Hig
Blythewood High
2,164 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High
1,743 students
- Ridge View Hig
Ridge View High
1,631 students
- Richland North
Richland Northeast High
1,340 students
- This school 665
Polo Road Elementary
665 students
What this shows Polo Road Elementary reports 665 students on the CCD universe file.
How Polo Road Elementary compares
Polo Road Elementary is a growing 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 | 12.8:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.3% | ▲ 7% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 665 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
665
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
79.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 31% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
21.2%
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
$14,024
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 665 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 37 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 51.9%
Hispanic or Latino 32.6%
Two or More 7.2%
White 5.9%
Asian 2.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 51.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.5, Polo Road Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 02 reports $14,024 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Polo Road Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blythewood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge View High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richland Northeast High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Polo Road Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,164
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,743
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,631
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,340
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Columbia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sc Connections Academy
Standard public school
6,152 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Brennen Elementary
Standard public school
805 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Rice Creek Elementary
Standard public school
718 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Caughman Road Elementary
Standard public school
715 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Killian Elementary
Standard public school
699 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Sandlapper Elementary
Standard public school
671 students 14.3:1 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 (~665 students)
Frequently asked questions about Polo Road Elementary
How many students attend Polo Road Elementary?
Polo Road Elementary has 665 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 604 (2022-23) → 659 (2023-24), up 55.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polo Road Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Polo Road Elementary is 12.8:1, 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 Polo Road Elementary?
79.3% of students at Polo Road Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Polo Road Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Polo Road Elementary is African American at 51.9% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Polo Road Elementary?
Polo Road Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Polo Road Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Polo Road Elementary ranks #33 of 43 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 schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 02?
Besides Polo Road Elementary, Richland 02 also operates Spring Valley High (2,230 students), Blythewood High (2,164 students), and Westwood High (1,743 students). See the Richland 02 district page for the complete list.