Enrollment
2,230
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbia, SC
Spring Valley High
Federal NCES profile for Spring Valley High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450339000975
👥 S:T ratio 27
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Spring Valley High earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina.
- #6 of 15
- high schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.3:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 48.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Spring Valley High has class sizes larger than 92% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Spring Valley High ranks #6 of 15 high schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450339000975 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
122.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.3:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
48.6%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Spring Valley High compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Spring Valley High
Spring Valley High is a large high school in Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling 2,230 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.3:1 is larger than about 92% of South Carolina schools and 28% 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 48.6% 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 2,230 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 36 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #17.
Its student body is led by African American (54%) and White (19%) (diversity index 64/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 22 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 319 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 473 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 2,230 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 13 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Columbia's high schools, it stands alongside Ridge View High (1,631 students): Spring Valley High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.3:1 vs 17.9:1).
Richland 02 also operates Blythewood High (2,164 students) and Westwood High (1,743 students) alongside Spring Valley High.
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 Spring Valley High compares
Spring Valley High 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 | 18.3:1 | ▲ 28% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.6% | ▼ 34% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,230 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,230
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
48.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% 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
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 92% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.1%
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
$13,517
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 319 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
212
in-school suspensions + 261 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 13 expulsions.
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
African American 54.3%
White 18.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.1%
Asian 6.8%
Two or More 5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 54.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.1, Spring Valley High is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Richland 02, which includes Spring Valley High.
$13,517
Per student
-7%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.0%
State 47.7%
Federal 10.3%
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 Spring Valley High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blythewood High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westwood High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ridge View High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Richland Northeast High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| E. L. Wright Middle | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Spring Valley High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,164
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,743
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,631
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,340
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,275
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar high schools in Columbia
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Ridge View High
Standard public school
1,631 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Richland Northeast High
Standard public school
1,340 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
A. C. Flora High
Standard public school
1,328 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Irmo High
Standard public school
1,272 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Dreher High
Standard public school
1,144 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Columbia High
Standard public school
681 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~2,230 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Spring Valley High's federal record.
- Compare Spring Valley High against another school. Compare schools
- Richland 02'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 Spring Valley High
How many students attend Spring Valley High?
Spring Valley High has 2,230 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbia, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spring Valley High?
The student-teacher ratio at Spring Valley High is 18.3:1, which is 28% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Spring Valley High?
48.6% of students at Spring Valley High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Spring Valley High?
The largest demographic group at Spring Valley High is African American at 54.3% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Spring Valley High?
Spring Valley High has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 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 Spring Valley High rank among high schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Spring Valley High ranks #6 of 15 high 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 high schools in Columbia on the city page.
Is Spring Valley High a good school?
Spring Valley High earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% 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 Richland 02?
Besides Spring Valley High, Richland 02 also operates Blythewood High (2,164 students), Westwood High (1,743 students), and Ridge View High (1,631 students). See the Richland 02 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.