Enrollment
2,180
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · West Columbia, SC
South Carolina Virtual Charter School
Federal NCES profile for South Carolina Virtual Charter School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390901513Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 89
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Carolina Virtual Charter School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina.
- #1 of 6
- schools in West Columbia · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.8:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 47.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South Carolina Virtual Charter School has class sizes larger than 74% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Carolina Virtual Charter School ranks #1 of 6 schools in West Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Charter Institute at Erskine · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390901513 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
138.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.3%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Carolina Virtual Charter School compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Carolina Virtual Charter School
South Carolina Virtual Charter School is a large charter combined-grade school in West Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 2,180 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 47.3% 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 2,180 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Among 36 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #2, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and African American (27%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 174 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance holds up well here: only 4.5% 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 West Columbia's public schools, it stands alongside Riverbank Elementary (996 students): South Carolina Virtual Charter School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.8:1 vs 13.6:1).
Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students) and Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students) alongside South Carolina Virtual Charter School.
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 South Carolina Virtual Charter School compares
South Carolina Virtual Charter School 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 | 15.8:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.3% | ▼ 36% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,180 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,180
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 74% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
4.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
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
Counselors12.5 FTE
Per 174 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 55.5%
African American 26.8%
Two or More 8.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 55.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.6, South Carolina Virtual Charter School is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charter Institute at Erskine, which includes South Carolina Virtual Charter School.
$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 South Carolina Virtual Charter School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sc Connections Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cyber Academy of South Carolina | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mevers School of Excellence | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Berkeley Preparatory Academy | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Carolina Virtual Charter School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 6,152
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 3,280
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- 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 West Columbia
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Riverbank Elementary
Standard public school
996 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Herbert a. Wood Elementary
Standard public school
938 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Gray Collegiate Academy
Standard public school
935 students 24:1 students per teacher
White Knoll Elementary
Standard public school
615 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Springdale Elementary
Standard public school
443 students 15.3:1 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 (~2,180 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Carolina Virtual Charter School's federal record.
- Compare South Carolina Virtual Charter School 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 South Carolina Virtual Charter School
How many students attend South Carolina Virtual Charter School?
South Carolina Virtual Charter School has 2,180 students enrolled. It is a public school in West Columbia, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Carolina Virtual Charter School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Carolina Virtual Charter School is 15.8:1, which is 10% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Carolina Virtual Charter School?
47.3% of students at South Carolina Virtual Charter School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Carolina Virtual Charter School?
The largest demographic group at South Carolina Virtual Charter School is White at 55.5% of enrollment, in West Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Carolina Virtual Charter School?
South Carolina Virtual Charter School has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Carolina Virtual Charter School rank among schools in West Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, South Carolina Virtual Charter School ranks #1 of 6 schools in West 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 West Columbia on the city page.
Is South Carolina Virtual Charter School a good school?
South Carolina Virtual Charter School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% 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 South Carolina Virtual Charter School, Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students), Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students), and Gray Collegiate Academy (935 students). See the Charter Institute at Erskine district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Compare schools
Side-by-side comparison tool
Schools in South Carolina
All public schools in South Carolina
Charter Institute at Erskine
All schools in this district
Schools in West Columbia
All schools in this city
School districts
Ranked by enrollment & spending
Rankings
Best schools by state & type
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.