- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbia, SC
Satchel Ford Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Satchel Ford Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 450336000930
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Satchel Ford Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of South Carolina schools.
- #3 of 5
- elementary schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Satchel Ford Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Satchel Ford Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000930 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+67 students YoY
Satchel Ford Elementary grew from 631 students in 2022-23 to 698 in 2023-24 (+10.6%).
Teacher FTE added 45.5 → 46.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+67 students YoY 450336000930 · Columbia, SC Elementary · MID · TRAD
721 enr · 16:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
Satchel Ford Elementary grew from 631 students in 2022-23 to 698 in 2023-24 (+10.6%). Teacher FTE added 45.5 → 46.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Satchel Ford Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school
Satchel Ford Elementary
721 students
What this shows Satchel Ford Elementary reports 721 students on the CCD universe file.
How Satchel Ford Elementary compares
Satchel Ford 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 | 16:1 | ▲ 12% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 721 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
721
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
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
16:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 76% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
9.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$18,992
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 721 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
27
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 69.2%
African American 20.9%
Two or More 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4.7%
Largest group: White at 69.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.3, Satchel Ford Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Satchel Ford Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Satchel Ford Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbia
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
E. L. Wright Middle
Standard public school
1,275 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Summit Parkway Middle
Standard public school
1,229 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Rosewood Elementary
Standard public school
338 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy
Standard public school
216 students 8.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~721 students)
Frequently asked questions about Satchel Ford Elementary
How many students attend Satchel Ford Elementary?
Satchel Ford Elementary has 721 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 631 (2022-23) → 698 (2023-24), up 67.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Satchel Ford Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Satchel Ford Elementary is 16:1, which is 12% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Satchel Ford Elementary?
100.0% of students at Satchel Ford Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Satchel Ford Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Satchel Ford Elementary is White at 69.2% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Satchel Ford Elementary?
Satchel Ford Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Satchel Ford Elementary rank among elementary schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Satchel Ford Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary 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 elementary schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 01?
Besides Satchel Ford Elementary, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.