Enrollment
6,152
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
221.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
27.8:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+94% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
38.2%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-48% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sc Connections Academy compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sc Connections Academy
Sc Connections Academy is a large charter combined-grade school in Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 6,152 students.
Class loads run heavy: 27.8:1 is larger than about 99% of South Carolina schools and 94% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 38.2% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 99% of state schools at 6,152 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Its student body is led by White (63%) and African American (20%) (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 362 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance holds up well here: only 7.4% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Charter Institute at Erskine spends $6,927 per pupil, 52% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Columbia's public schools, it stands alongside Brennen Elementary (805 students): Sc Connections Academy is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (27.8:1 vs 15.2:1).
Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students) and South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students) alongside Sc Connections 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 Sc Connections Academy compares
Sc Connections 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$6,927
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charter Institute at Erskine, which includes Sc Connections Academy.
$6,927
Per student
-52%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-58%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 2.7%
State 85.8%
Federal 11.5%
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 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
- 3,280
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- 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
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 (~6,152 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sc Connections Academy's federal record.
- Compare Sc Connections Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Charter Institute at Erskine'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 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.
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, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Sc Connections Academy a good school?
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. 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 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.
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.