- Enrollment
- 1,731
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
River Ridge Academy held near 1,138 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 78.0 → 89.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+18 students YoY 450111001662 · Bluffton, SC Other · MID · TRAD
1,134 enr · 14.5:1 · 18.2% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: May River High (1,731 students)
River Ridge Academy held near 1,138 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount). Teacher FTE added 78.0 → 89.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
River Ridge Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- May River High
May River High
1,731 students
- Bluffton High
Bluffton High
1,375 students
- Hilton Head Is
Hilton Head Island High
1,265 students
- This school
River Ridge Academy
1,134 students
- Beaufort High
Beaufort High
1,104 students
- Bluffton Middl
Bluffton Middle
921 students
What this shows River Ridge Academy reports 1,134 students on the CCD universe file.
How River Ridge Academy compares
River Ridge Academy 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 | 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 methodology
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
$17,232
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
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.
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
District finance for Beaufort 01 reports $17,232 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,375
- 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
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 (~1,134 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 1,120 (2022-23) → 1,138 (2023-24), nearly flat (+18).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.