- Enrollment
- 2,230
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Sandlapper Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sandlapper Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450339001075
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 77
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sandlapper Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #14 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 71.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Sandlapper Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sandlapper Elementary ranks #14 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339001075 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+38 students YoY
Sandlapper Elementary grew from 656 students in 2022-23 to 694 in 2023-24 (+5.8%).
Teacher FTE added 47.4 → 52.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+38 students YoY 450339001075 · Columbia, SC Other · MID · TRAD
671 enr · 14.3:1 · 71.3% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring Valley High (2,230 students)
Sandlapper Elementary grew from 656 students in 2022-23 to 694 in 2023-24 (+5.8%). Teacher FTE added 47.4 → 52.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Sandlapper 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 671
Sandlapper Elementary
671 students
What this shows Sandlapper Elementary reports 671 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sandlapper Elementary compares
Sandlapper Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 14.3:1 | ▼ 0% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.3% | ▼ 4% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 671 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
671
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% 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
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 54% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
9.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
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 671 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 54 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 77.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
White 6.7%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 3.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 77.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.3, Sandlapper 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 Sandlapper 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 | Similar 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 Sandlapper 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
Rice Creek Elementary
Standard public school
718 students 13.3:1 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
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 (~671 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sandlapper Elementary
How many students attend Sandlapper Elementary?
Sandlapper Elementary has 671 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 656 (2022-23) → 694 (2023-24), up 38.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sandlapper Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sandlapper Elementary is 14.3:1, which is 0% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 9% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sandlapper Elementary?
71.3% of students at Sandlapper Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sandlapper Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sandlapper Elementary is African American at 77.0% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sandlapper Elementary?
Sandlapper Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Sandlapper Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Sandlapper Elementary ranks #14 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 Sandlapper 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.