Enrollment
1,426
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Myrtle Beach, SC
River Oaks Elementary
Federal NCES profile for River Oaks Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450249001603
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
River Oaks Elementary earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of South Carolina schools.
- #4 of 10
- schools in Myrtle Beach · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.1:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 54.3%
- free-lunch eligible
River Oaks Elementary has class sizes larger than 91% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, River Oaks Elementary ranks #4 of 10 schools in Myrtle Beach, SC.
School address
District: Horry 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450249001603 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
79.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.1:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
54.3%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How River Oaks Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at River Oaks Elementary
River Oaks Elementary is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, enrolling 1,426 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.1:1 is larger than about 91% of South Carolina schools and 27% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 54.3% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 94% of state schools at 1,426 students.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 1,214 South Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 88 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #2, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%) (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 219 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance holds up well here: only 9.7% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
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 Carolina Forest Elementary (1,336 students): River Oaks Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.1:1 vs 16.5:1).
Horry 01 also operates Carolina Forest High (3,176 students) and St. James High (1,826 students) alongside River Oaks 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 River Oaks Elementary compares
River Oaks 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 | 18.1:1 | ▲ 27% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.3% | ▼ 27% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,426 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,426
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
54.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below 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
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 91% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
9.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
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
Counselors6.5 FTE
Per 219 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
88
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.1 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 57.9%
Hispanic or Latino 22.1%
African American 9.9%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 57.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.9, River Oaks 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 River Oaks 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 River Oaks Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. James High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Conway High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Socastee High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Myrtle Beach High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to River Oaks 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.
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
Socastee Elementary
Standard public school
850 students 14.9:1 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 (~1,426 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on River Oaks Elementary's federal record.
- Compare River Oaks 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 River Oaks Elementary
How many students attend River Oaks Elementary?
River Oaks Elementary has 1,426 students enrolled. It is a public school in Myrtle Beach, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Oaks Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at River Oaks Elementary is 18.1:1, which is 27% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at River Oaks Elementary?
54.3% of students at River Oaks Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of River Oaks Elementary?
The largest demographic group at River Oaks Elementary is White at 57.9% of enrollment, in Myrtle Beach, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for River Oaks Elementary?
River Oaks Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (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 River Oaks Elementary rank among schools in Myrtle Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, River Oaks Elementary ranks #4 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 River Oaks Elementary a good school?
River Oaks Elementary earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of South Carolina schools. 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 River Oaks 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.