Enrollment
548
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Summerville, SC
Summerville Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Summerville Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450201000397
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Summerville Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #4 of 15
- schools in Summerville · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 62.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Summerville Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Summerville Elementary ranks #4 of 15 schools in Summerville, SC.
School address
District: Dorchester 02 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450201000397 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.7%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Summerville Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Summerville Elementary
Summerville Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Summerville, South Carolina, enrolling 548 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.2:1 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 62.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 548 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 140 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #62.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and African American (26%) (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 274 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dorchester 02 spends $11,173 per pupil, 23% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Summerville's public schools, it stands alongside Sand Hill Elementary (1,169 students): Summerville Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.2:1 vs 18.6:1).
Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students) and Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students) alongside Summerville Elementary.
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 Summerville Elementary compares
Summerville Elementary 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 | 15.2:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.7% | ▼ 15% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 548 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
548
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 66% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.9%
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
$11,173
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 274 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 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 55.7%
African American 25.9%
Hispanic or Latino 12.0%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 55.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.4, Summerville Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dorchester 02, which includes Summerville Elementary.
$11,173
Per student
-23%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.4%
State 53.8%
Federal 13.8%
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 Summerville Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ashley Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Dorchester High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Hill Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beech Hill Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Summerville Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,361
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,599
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,344
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,079
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Summerville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sand Hill Elementary
Standard public school
1,169 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Cane Bay Elementary
Standard public school
1,161 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Beech Hill Elementary
Standard public school
1,079 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Nexton Elementary
Standard public school
944 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
William M. Reeves Elementary
Standard public school
930 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Newington Elementary
Standard public school
862 students 17.6:1 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 (~548 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Summerville Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Summerville Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Dorchester 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 Summerville Elementary
How many students attend Summerville Elementary?
Summerville Elementary has 548 students enrolled. It is a public school in Summerville, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Summerville Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Summerville Elementary is 15.2:1, which is 6% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Summerville Elementary?
62.7% of students at Summerville Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Summerville Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Summerville Elementary is White at 55.7% of enrollment, in Summerville, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Summerville Elementary?
Summerville Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 Summerville Elementary rank among schools in Summerville?
By Resource Investment Index, Summerville Elementary ranks #4 of 15 schools in Summerville, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Summerville on the city page.
Is Summerville Elementary a good school?
Summerville Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. 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 Dorchester 02?
Besides Summerville Elementary, Dorchester 02 also operates Summerville High (3,361 students), Ashley Ridge High (2,599 students), and Fort Dorchester High (2,344 students). See the Dorchester 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.