Enrollment
1,134
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bluffton, SC
River Ridge Academy
Federal NCES profile for River Ridge Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450111001662
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
River Ridge Academy earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #1 of 6
- schools in Bluffton · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.5:1
- students per teacher
- 18.2%
- free-lunch eligible
River Ridge Academy has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, River Ridge Academy ranks #1 of 6 schools in Bluffton, SC.
School address
District: Beaufort 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450111001662 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
78.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.5:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
18.2%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-75% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How River Ridge Academy compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at River Ridge Academy
River Ridge Academy is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Bluffton, South Carolina, enrolling 1,134 students.
At 14.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the South Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 14.3:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 18.2% free-meal eligibility runs 75% below the South Carolina average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 91% of state schools at 1,134 students.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 93% of the 1,214 South Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 76 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #8, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 284 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Among Bluffton's public schools, it stands alongside Pritchardville Elementary (887 students): River Ridge Academy is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.5:1 vs 12.5:1).
Beaufort 01 also operates May River High (1,731 students) and Bluffton High (1,375 students) alongside River Ridge Academy.
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 Ridge Academy compares
River Ridge Academy 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 | 14.5:1 | ▲ 1% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.2% | ▼ 75% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,134 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,134
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
18.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% 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
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 57% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
8.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$16,066
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $14,558
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 284 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
59
in-school suspensions + 41 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 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 57.8%
Hispanic or Latino 26.7%
African American 6.5%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 57.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.6, River Ridge Academy is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Beaufort 01, which includes River Ridge Academy.
$16,066
Per student
+10%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-3%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 56.5%
State 30.2%
Federal 13.4%
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 Ridge Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| May River High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bluffton High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hilton Head Island High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Beaufort High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bluffton Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to River Ridge Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,731
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,375
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,265
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,104
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 921
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Bluffton
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pritchardville Elementary
Standard public school
887 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Bluffton Elementary
Standard public school
709 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Michael C. Riley Elementary
Standard public school
704 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Okatie Elementary
Standard public school
648 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Red Cedar Elementary
Standard public school
636 students 11.4:1 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 (~1,134 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on River Ridge Academy's federal record.
- Compare River Ridge Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Beaufort 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 Ridge Academy
How many students attend River Ridge Academy?
River Ridge Academy has 1,134 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bluffton, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Ridge Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at River Ridge Academy is 14.5:1, which is 1% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at River Ridge Academy?
18.2% of students at River Ridge Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of River Ridge Academy?
The largest demographic group at River Ridge Academy is White at 57.8% of enrollment, in Bluffton, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for River Ridge Academy?
River Ridge Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (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 Ridge Academy rank among schools in Bluffton?
By Resource Investment Index, River Ridge Academy ranks #1 of 6 schools in Bluffton, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Bluffton on the city page.
Is River Ridge Academy a good school?
River Ridge Academy earns 58/100 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 Beaufort 01?
Besides River Ridge Academy, Beaufort 01 also operates May River High (1,731 students), Bluffton High (1,375 students), and Hilton Head Island High (1,265 students). See the Beaufort 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.