- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Rice Creek Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Rice Creek Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450339000042
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rice Creek Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #27 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 76.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Rice Creek Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rice Creek Elementary ranks #27 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339000042 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+27 students YoY
Rice Creek Elementary held near 764 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+27 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 54.8 → 58.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+27 students YoY 450339000042 · Columbia, SC Other · MID · TRAD
718 enr · 13.3:1 · 76.1% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring Valley High (2,230 students)
Rice Creek Elementary held near 764 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+27 headcount). Teacher FTE added 54.8 → 58.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Rice Creek 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 718
Rice Creek Elementary
718 students
What this shows Rice Creek Elementary reports 718 students on the CCD universe file.
How Rice Creek Elementary compares
Rice Creek 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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.1% | ▲ 3% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 718 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
718
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 39% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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 718 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 74.9%
Two or More 9.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%
White 5.3%
Asian 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 74.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.1, Rice Creek Elementary is less 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 Rice Creek 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 Rice Creek 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
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
Polo Road Elementary
Standard public school
665 students 12.8:1 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 (~718 students)
Frequently asked questions about Rice Creek Elementary
How many students attend Rice Creek Elementary?
Rice Creek Elementary has 718 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 737 (2022-23) → 764 (2023-24), nearly flat (+27).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rice Creek Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rice Creek Elementary is 13.3:1, which is 7% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 15% 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 Rice Creek Elementary?
76.1% of students at Rice Creek Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rice Creek Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Rice Creek Elementary is African American at 74.9% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rice Creek Elementary?
Rice Creek Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Rice Creek Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Rice Creek Elementary ranks #27 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 Rice Creek 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.