Enrollment
2,069
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Charleston, SC
West Ashley High
Federal NCES profile for West Ashley High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450144000548
👥 S:T ratio 26
📚 AP courses 65
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Ashley High earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina.
- #4 of 5
- high schools in Charleston · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.6:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
West Ashley High has class sizes larger than 93% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Ashley High ranks #4 of 5 high schools in Charleston, SC.
School address
District: Charleston 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450144000548 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
111.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.6:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Ashley High compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Ashley High
West Ashley High is a high-poverty, large high school in Charleston, South Carolina, enrolling 2,069 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.6:1 is larger than about 93% of South Carolina schools and 30% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Carolina, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,069 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Its student body is led by White (46%) and African American (35%) (diversity index 65/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 13 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 259 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 441 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 2,069 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 32 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Charleston's high schools, it stands alongside James Island Charter High (1,612 students): West Ashley High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.6:1 vs 15.2:1).
Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students) and Rb Stall High (2,135 students) alongside West Ashley High.
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 West Ashley High compares
West Ashley High 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 30% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,069 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,069
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
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
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 93% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.7%
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
$15,213
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $14,558
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 259 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
197
in-school suspensions + 244 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 32 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 45.8%
African American 34.9%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
Two or More 6.3%
Asian 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 45.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.2, West Ashley High is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charleston 01, which includes West Ashley High.
$15,213
Per student
+4%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 59.0%
State 27.7%
Federal 13.3%
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 West Ashley High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wando High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rb Stall High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lucy Garrett Beckham High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| James Island Charter High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| C. E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Art | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Ashley High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,135
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,757
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 1,299
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar high schools in Charleston
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
James Island Charter High
Standard public school
1,612 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Philip Simmons High
Standard public school
797 students 15:1 students per teacher
Charleston Advancement Academy High School
Standard public school
424 students 38.5:1 students per teacher
Burke High
Standard public school
342 students 5.8:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~2,069 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Ashley High's federal record.
- Compare West Ashley High against another school. Compare schools
- Charleston 01'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 West Ashley High
How many students attend West Ashley High?
West Ashley High has 2,069 students enrolled. It is a high school in Charleston, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Ashley High?
The student-teacher ratio at West Ashley High is 18.6:1, which is 30% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Ashley High?
100.0% of students at West Ashley High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Ashley High?
The largest demographic group at West Ashley High is White at 45.8% of enrollment, in Charleston, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Ashley High?
West Ashley High has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Ashley High rank among high schools in Charleston?
By Resource Investment Index, West Ashley High ranks #4 of 5 high schools in Charleston, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Charleston on the city page.
Is West Ashley High a good school?
West Ashley High earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of South Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Carolina. 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 Charleston 01?
Besides West Ashley High, Charleston 01 also operates Wando High (2,588 students), Rb Stall High (2,135 students), and Lucy Garrett Beckham High (1,757 students). See the Charleston 01 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.