- Enrollment
- 3,280
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Sc Connections Academy
Federal NCES profile for Sc Connections Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390901520Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sc Connections Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina.
- #21 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 27.8:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 38.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Sc Connections Academy has class sizes larger than 99% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sc Connections Academy ranks #21 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Charter Institute at Erskine · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390901520 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-308 students YoY
Sc Connections Academy held near 5,955 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-308 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 221.0 → 254.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-308 students YoY 450390901520 · Columbia, SC Other · LARGE · CHARTER
6,152 enr · 27.8:1 · 38.2% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students)
Sc Connections Academy held near 5,955 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-308 headcount). Teacher FTE added 221.0 → 254.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Sc Connections Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Sc Connections Academy
6,152 students
- Cyber Academy
Cyber Academy of South Carolina
3,280 students
- South Carolina 2,180
South Carolina Virtual Charter School
2,180 students
- Gray Collegiat 935
Gray Collegiate Academy
935 students
- Mevers School 772
Mevers School of Excellence
772 students
- Berkeley Prepa 764
Berkeley Preparatory Academy
764 students
What this shows Sc Connections Academy reports 6,152 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sc Connections Academy compares
Sc Connections 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 | 27.8:1 | ▲ 94% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.2% | ▼ 48% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 6,152 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.8:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
6,152
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
27.8:1
students per teacher
- 94% above state mean
Top 99% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
7.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$20,062
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
Counselors17.0 FTE
Per 362 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.7%
African American 20.4%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Two or More 7.2%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 62.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.3, Sc Connections Academy is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Charter Institute at Erskine reports $20,062 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sc Connections Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyber Academy of South Carolina | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mevers School of Excellence | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Berkeley Preparatory Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sc Connections Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 764
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Columbia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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
Sandlapper Elementary
Standard public school
671 students 14.3:1 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 (~6,152 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sc Connections Academy
How many students attend Sc Connections Academy?
Sc Connections Academy has 6,152 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 6,263 (2022-23) → 5,955 (2023-24), nearly flat (-308).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sc Connections Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Sc Connections Academy is 27.8:1, which is 94% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 77% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sc Connections Academy?
38.2% of students at Sc Connections Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sc Connections Academy?
The largest demographic group at Sc Connections Academy is White at 62.7% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sc Connections Academy?
Sc Connections Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Sc Connections Academy rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Sc Connections Academy ranks #21 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 Charter Institute at Erskine?
Besides Sc Connections Academy, Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students), South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students), and Gray Collegiate Academy (935 students). See the Charter Institute at Erskine district page for the complete list.