- Enrollment
- 6,152
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Clinton, SC
Thornwell Charter School
Federal NCES profile for Thornwell Charter School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390901716Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 83
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thornwell Charter School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of South Carolina schools.
- #7 of 7
- public schools in Clinton · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.9:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Thornwell Charter School has class sizes larger than 98% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thornwell Charter School ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Clinton, SC.
School address
District: Charter Institute at Erskine · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390901716 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+72 students YoY
Thornwell Charter School grew from 299 students in 2022-23 to 371 in 2023-24 (+24.1%).
Teacher FTE added 24.4 → 39.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+72 students YoY 450390901716 · Clinton, SC Other · MID · CHARTER
525 enr · 21.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students)
Thornwell Charter School grew from 299 students in 2022-23 to 371 in 2023-24 (+24.1%). Teacher FTE added 24.4 → 39.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Thornwell Charter School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sc Connections
Sc Connections Academy
6,152 students
- Cyber Academy
Cyber Academy of South Carolina
3,280 students
- South Carolina 2,180
South Carolina Virtual Charter School
2,180 students
- Gray Collegiat 935
Gray Collegiate Academy
935 students
- Mevers School 772
Mevers School of Excellence
772 students
- This school 525
Thornwell Charter School
525 students
What this shows Thornwell Charter School reports 525 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thornwell Charter School compares
Thornwell Charter School 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 | 21.9:1 | ▲ 53% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 525 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.9:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
525
Bigger than 65% 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
21.9:1
students per teacher
- 53% above state mean
Top 98% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
6.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$20,062
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 525 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
45
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.5%
African American 21.1%
Two or More 6.9%
Hispanic or Latino 5.0%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 65.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.9, Thornwell Charter School is about as mixed as the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
District finance for Charter Institute at Erskine reports $20,062 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thornwell Charter School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sc Connections Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cyber Academy of South Carolina | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mevers School of Excellence | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thornwell Charter School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,280
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Clinton
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~525 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thornwell Charter School
How many students attend Thornwell Charter School?
Thornwell Charter School has 525 students enrolled. It is a public school in Clinton, SC. CCD year-over-year: 299 (2022-23) → 371 (2023-24), up 72.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornwell Charter School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thornwell Charter School is 21.9:1, which is 53% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thornwell Charter School?
100.0% of students at Thornwell Charter School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thornwell Charter School?
The largest demographic group at Thornwell Charter School is White at 65.5% of enrollment, in Clinton, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thornwell Charter School?
Thornwell Charter School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 Thornwell Charter School rank among public schools in Clinton?
By Resource Investment Index, Thornwell Charter School ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Clinton, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Clinton on the city page.
What other schools are in Charter Institute at Erskine?
Besides Thornwell Charter School, Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students), Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students), and South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students). See the Charter Institute at Erskine district page for the complete list.