- Enrollment
- 1,645
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Aiken, SC
South Aiken High
Federal NCES profile for South Aiken High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450072001202
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Aiken High earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of South Carolina schools.
- #4 of 4
- high schools in Aiken · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 38.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Aiken High has class sizes larger than 90% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Aiken High ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Aiken, SC.
School address
District: Aiken 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450072001202 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-51 students YoY
South Aiken High held near 1,305 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-51 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 76.5 → 80.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-51 students YoY 450072001202 · Aiken, SC High · MID · TRAD
1,349 enr · 17.8:1 · 38.6% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: North Augusta High (1,645 students)
South Aiken High held near 1,305 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-51 headcount). Teacher FTE added 76.5 → 80.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
South Aiken High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- North Augusta
North Augusta High
1,645 students
- Midland Valley
Midland Valley High
1,558 students
- This school
South Aiken High
1,349 students
- Aiken High
Aiken High
1,097 students
- Silver Bluff H
Silver Bluff High
756 students
- Byrd Elementar
Byrd Elementary
708 students
What this shows South Aiken High reports 1,349 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Aiken High compares
South Aiken High 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 | 17.8:1 | ▲ 24% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.6% | ▼ 48% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,349 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,349
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.6%
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
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 90% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
40.3%
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
$11,967
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 270 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
222
in-school suspensions + 198 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 31.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 48.8%
African American 30.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.6%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 48.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.9, South Aiken High is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Aiken 01 reports $11,967 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Aiken High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Augusta High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Midland Valley High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Aiken High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Silver Bluff High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Byrd Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Aiken High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,558
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,097
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 708
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar high schools in Aiken
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,349 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Aiken High
How many students attend South Aiken High?
South Aiken High has 1,349 students enrolled. It is a high school in Aiken, SC. CCD year-over-year: 1,356 (2022-23) → 1,305 (2023-24), nearly flat (-51).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Aiken High?
The student-teacher ratio at South Aiken High is 17.8:1, which is 24% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Aiken High?
38.6% of students at South Aiken High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Aiken High?
The largest demographic group at South Aiken High is White at 48.8% of enrollment, in Aiken, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Aiken High?
South Aiken High has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 South Aiken High rank among high schools in Aiken?
By Resource Investment Index, South Aiken High ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Aiken, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Aiken on the city page.
What other schools are in Aiken 01?
Besides South Aiken High, Aiken 01 also operates North Augusta High (1,645 students), Midland Valley High (1,558 students), and Aiken High (1,097 students). See the Aiken 01 district page for the complete list.