Enrollment
785
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Beaufort, SC
Robert Smalls International Academy
Federal NCES profile for Robert Smalls International Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450111001630
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Robert Smalls International Academy earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of South Carolina schools.
- #4 of 9
- schools in Beaufort · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.5:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Robert Smalls International Academy has class sizes smaller than 73% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Robert Smalls International Academy ranks #4 of 9 schools in Beaufort, SC.
School address
District: Beaufort 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450111001630 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
63.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.5:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Robert Smalls International Academy compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Robert Smalls International Academy
Robert Smalls International Academy is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Beaufort, South Carolina, enrolling 785 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.5:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 785 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Among 245 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #25, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (46%) and Hispanic or Latino (32%) (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 262 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 345 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 785 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Beaufort's public schools, it stands alongside Bridges Preparatory School (1,472 students): Robert Smalls International Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.5:1 vs 16.9:1).
Beaufort 01 also operates May River High (1,731 students) and Bluffton High (1,375 students) alongside Robert Smalls International 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 Robert Smalls International Academy compares
Robert Smalls International 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 | 12.5:1 | ▼ 13% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 785 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
785
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 27% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.4%
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
$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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 262 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
165
in-school suspensions + 180 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 43.9 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
African American 45.6%
Hispanic or Latino 31.6%
White 13.8%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 45.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.8, Robert Smalls International 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 Robert Smalls International 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 Robert Smalls International Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| May River High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bluffton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hilton Head Island High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| River Ridge Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beaufort High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Robert Smalls International 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
- 1,134
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 1,104
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Beaufort
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Bridges Preparatory School
Standard public school
1,472 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Broad River Elementary
Standard public school
467 students 10.2:1 students per teacher
Coosa Elementary
Standard public school
467 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary
Standard public school
416 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Lowcountry Montessori School
Standard public school
408 students 17:1 students per teacher
Beaufort Elementary
Standard public school
375 students 8:1 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 (~785 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Robert Smalls International Academy's federal record.
- Compare Robert Smalls International 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 Robert Smalls International Academy
How many students attend Robert Smalls International Academy?
Robert Smalls International Academy has 785 students enrolled. It is a public school in Beaufort, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Robert Smalls International Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Robert Smalls International Academy is 12.5:1, which is 13% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 20% 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 Robert Smalls International Academy?
100.0% of students at Robert Smalls International Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Robert Smalls International Academy?
The largest demographic group at Robert Smalls International Academy is African American at 45.6% of enrollment, in Beaufort, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Robert Smalls International Academy?
Robert Smalls International Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Robert Smalls International Academy rank among schools in Beaufort?
By Resource Investment Index, Robert Smalls International Academy ranks #4 of 9 schools in Beaufort, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Beaufort on the city page.
Is Robert Smalls International Academy a good school?
Robert Smalls International Academy earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% 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 Beaufort 01?
Besides Robert Smalls International 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.