- Enrollment
- 1,827
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Florence, SC
Theodore Lester Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Theodore Lester Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 450213001235
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Theodore Lester Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #8 of 10
- elementary schools in Florence · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Theodore Lester Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Theodore Lester Elementary ranks #8 of 10 elementary schools in Florence, SC.
School address
District: Florence 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450213001235 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+110 students YoY
Theodore Lester Elementary grew from 265 students in 2022-23 to 375 in 2023-24 (+41.5%).
Teacher FTE added 27.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+110 students YoY 450213001235 · Florence, SC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
362 enr · 13.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: West Florence High (1,827 students)
Theodore Lester Elementary grew from 265 students in 2022-23 to 375 in 2023-24 (+41.5%). Teacher FTE added 27.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Theodore Lester Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Florence
West Florence High
1,827 students
- South Florence
South Florence High
1,580 students
- Wilson High
Wilson High
1,373 students
- Southside Midd
Southside Middle
1,138 students
- John W. Moore
John W. Moore Middle
1,056 students
- This school 362
Theodore Lester Elementary
362 students
What this shows Theodore Lester Elementary reports 362 students on the CCD universe file.
How Theodore Lester Elementary compares
Theodore Lester Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 13.4:1 | ▼ 6% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 362 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
362
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 41% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
45.0%
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
$14,162
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 362 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 87 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 52.5%
White 30.1%
Two or More 9.4%
Hispanic or Latino 7.2%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 52.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.0, Theodore Lester Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Florence 01 reports $14,162 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Theodore Lester Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Florence High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Florence High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wilson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southside Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John W. Moore Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Theodore Lester Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,580
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,373
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,138
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,056
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Florence
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Delmae Heights Elementary
Standard public school
988 students 17:1 students per teacher
Lucy T. Davis Elementary
Standard public school
632 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Carver Elementary
Standard public school
615 students 15:1 students per teacher
Greenwood Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Royall Elementary
Standard public school
512 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Briggs Elementary
Standard public school
451 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~362 students)
Frequently asked questions about Theodore Lester Elementary
How many students attend Theodore Lester Elementary?
Theodore Lester Elementary has 362 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Florence, SC. CCD year-over-year: 265 (2022-23) → 375 (2023-24), up 110.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Theodore Lester Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Theodore Lester Elementary is 13.4:1, which is 6% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Theodore Lester Elementary?
100.0% of students at Theodore Lester Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Theodore Lester Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Theodore Lester Elementary is African American at 52.5% of enrollment, in Florence, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Theodore Lester Elementary?
Theodore Lester Elementary 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 Theodore Lester Elementary rank among elementary schools in Florence?
By Resource Investment Index, Theodore Lester Elementary ranks #8 of 10 elementary schools in Florence, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Florence on the city page.
What other schools are in Florence 01?
Besides Theodore Lester Elementary, Florence 01 also operates West Florence High (1,827 students), South Florence High (1,580 students), and Wilson High (1,373 students). See the Florence 01 district page for the complete list.