- Enrollment
- 3,176
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Little River, SC
Waterway Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Waterway Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450249000901
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waterway Elementary earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Little River · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.2:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 67.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Waterway Elementary has class sizes larger than 92% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waterway Elementary ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Little River, SC.
School address
District: Horry 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450249000901 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+35 students YoY
Waterway Elementary held near 845 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+35 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 50.0 → 53.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+35 students YoY 450249000901 · Little River, SC Other · MID · TRAD
912 enr · 18.2:1 · 67.9% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Carolina Forest High (3,176 students)
Waterway Elementary held near 845 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+35 headcount). Teacher FTE added 50.0 → 53.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Waterway Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carolina Fores
Carolina Forest High
3,176 students
- St. James High
St. James High
1,826 students
- Conway High
Conway High
1,724 students
- Socastee High
Socastee High
1,720 students
- North Myrtle B
North Myrtle Beach High
1,673 students
- This school 912
Waterway Elementary
912 students
What this shows Waterway Elementary reports 912 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waterway Elementary compares
Waterway Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 18.2:1 | ▲ 27% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.9% | ▼ 8% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 912 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
912
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
67.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% 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
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 27% 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
14.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,222
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.5 FTE
Per 203 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
79
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 48.4%
Hispanic or Latino 20.2%
African American 17.8%
Two or More 11.7%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 48.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.9, Waterway Elementary is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Horry 01 reports $13,222 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Waterway Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. James High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Conway High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Socastee High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Myrtle Beach High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waterway Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,826
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,673
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Little River
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 (~912 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waterway Elementary
How many students attend Waterway Elementary?
Waterway Elementary has 912 students enrolled. It is a public school in Little River, SC. CCD year-over-year: 810 (2022-23) → 845 (2023-24), nearly flat (+35).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waterway Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Waterway Elementary is 18.2:1, which is 27% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 16% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Waterway Elementary?
67.9% of students at Waterway Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waterway Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Waterway Elementary is White at 48.4% of enrollment, in Little River, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waterway Elementary?
Waterway Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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 Waterway Elementary rank among public schools in Little River?
By Resource Investment Index, Waterway Elementary ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Little River, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Horry 01?
Besides Waterway Elementary, Horry 01 also operates Carolina Forest High (3,176 students), St. James High (1,826 students), and Conway High (1,724 students). See the Horry 01 district page for the complete list.