- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, SC
Watkins-Nance Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Watkins-Nance Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450336000638
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watkins-Nance Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of South Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #43 of 43
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Watkins-Nance Elementary has class sizes larger than 96% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watkins-Nance Elementary ranks #43 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000638 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+52 students YoY
Watkins-Nance Elementary grew from 383 students in 2022-23 to 435 in 2023-24 (+13.6%).
Teacher FTE added 25.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+52 students YoY 450336000638 · Columbia, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
499 enr · 20:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
Watkins-Nance Elementary grew from 383 students in 2022-23 to 435 in 2023-24 (+13.6%). Teacher FTE added 25.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Watkins-Nance Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school 499
Watkins-Nance Elementary
499 students
What this shows Watkins-Nance Elementary reports 499 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watkins-Nance Elementary compares
Watkins-Nance 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 | 20:1 | ▲ 40% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 499 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
499
Bigger than 62% 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
20:1
students per teacher
- 40% above state mean
Top 96% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
35.3%
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
$18,992
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 499 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 86.6%
Two or More 7.4%
Hispanic or Latino 4.0%
White 1.6%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 86.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 24.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 24.3, Watkins-Nance Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watkins-Nance Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watkins-Nance Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar other schools in Columbia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sc Connections Academy
Standard public school
6,152 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Brennen Elementary
Standard public school
805 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Rice Creek Elementary
Standard public school
718 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Caughman Road Elementary
Standard public school
715 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Killian Elementary
Standard public school
699 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Sandlapper Elementary
Standard public school
671 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~499 students)
Frequently asked questions about Watkins-Nance Elementary
How many students attend Watkins-Nance Elementary?
Watkins-Nance Elementary has 499 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 383 (2022-23) → 435 (2023-24), up 52.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watkins-Nance Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Watkins-Nance Elementary is 20:1, which is 40% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Watkins-Nance Elementary?
100.0% of students at Watkins-Nance Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watkins-Nance Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Watkins-Nance Elementary is African American at 86.6% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watkins-Nance Elementary?
Watkins-Nance Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 Watkins-Nance Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Watkins-Nance Elementary ranks #43 of 43 schools in Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 01?
Besides Watkins-Nance Elementary, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.