Enrollment
756
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Florence, SC
Virtus Academy of South Carolina
Federal NCES profile for Virtus Academy of South Carolina, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390901699Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Virtus Academy of South Carolina earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 5
- schools in Florence · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.4:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 69.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Virtus Academy of South Carolina has class sizes larger than 79% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Virtus Academy of South Carolina ranks #2 of 5 schools in Florence, SC.
School address
District: Charter Institute at Erskine · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390901699 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.4:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.2%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Virtus Academy of South Carolina compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Virtus Academy of South Carolina
Virtus Academy of South Carolina is a higher-need, mid-sized charter combined-grade school in Florence, South Carolina, enrolling 756 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.4:1 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 69.2% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 756 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 157 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #22.
Its student body is led by White (49%) and African American (37%) (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 378 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.2% 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.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Florence's public schools, it stands alongside Mclaurin Elementary (552 students): Virtus Academy of South Carolina is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.4:1 vs 8.9:1).
Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students) and Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students) alongside Virtus Academy of South Carolina.
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 Virtus Academy of South Carolina compares
Virtus Academy of South Carolina 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 | 16.4:1 | ▲ 15% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.2% | ▼ 6% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 756 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
756
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% 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
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 79% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 378 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
52
in-school suspensions + 63 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 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
White 49.1%
African American 36.5%
Two or More 7.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.6, Virtus Academy of South Carolina is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charter Institute at Erskine, which includes Virtus Academy of South Carolina.
$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 Virtus Academy of South Carolina 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mevers School of Excellence | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Virtus Academy of South Carolina'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
- 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 Florence
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Mclaurin Elementary
Standard public school
552 students 8.9:1 students per teacher
North Vista Elementary
Standard public school
446 students 9.1:1 students per teacher
Child Development Center at Woods Road
Standard public school
189 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
R.N. Beck Child Development Center
Standard public school
168 students 12.9:1 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 (~756 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Virtus Academy of South Carolina's federal record.
- Compare Virtus Academy of South Carolina 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 Virtus Academy of South Carolina
How many students attend Virtus Academy of South Carolina?
Virtus Academy of South Carolina has 756 students enrolled. It is a public school in Florence, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Virtus Academy of South Carolina?
The student-teacher ratio at Virtus Academy of South Carolina is 16.4:1, which is 15% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Virtus Academy of South Carolina?
69.2% of students at Virtus Academy of South Carolina are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Virtus Academy of South Carolina?
The largest demographic group at Virtus Academy of South Carolina is White at 49.1% of enrollment, in Florence, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Virtus Academy of South Carolina?
Virtus Academy of South Carolina has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 Virtus Academy of South Carolina rank among schools in Florence?
By Resource Investment Index, Virtus Academy of South Carolina ranks #2 of 5 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 schools in Florence on the city page.
Is Virtus Academy of South Carolina a good school?
Virtus Academy of South Carolina earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of South Carolina schools. 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 Virtus Academy of South Carolina, 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.
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.