- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450144000548
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 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 41/100 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
- 41
- 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+108 students YoY
West Ashley High grew from 1,935 students in 2022-23 to 2,043 in 2023-24 (+5.6%).
Teacher FTE added 111.8 → 121.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+108 students YoY 450144000548 · Charleston, SC High · LARGE · TRAD
2,069 enr · 18.6:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Wando High (2,588 students)
West Ashley High grew from 1,935 students in 2022-23 to 2,043 in 2023-24 (+5.6%). Teacher FTE added 111.8 → 121.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Ashley High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Wando High
Wando High
2,588 students
- Rb Stall High
Rb Stall High
2,135 students
- This school
West Ashley High
2,069 students
- Lucy Garrett B
Lucy Garrett Beckham High
1,757 students
- James Island C
James Island Charter High
1,612 students
- C. E. Williams
C. E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Art
1,299 students
What this shows West Ashley High reports 2,069 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Ashley High compares
West Ashley High 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 | 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 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
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
$16,635
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
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.
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
District finance for Charleston 01 reports $16,635 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 2,135
- 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
Nationwide high 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 (~2,069 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.6:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 1,935 (2022-23) → 2,043 (2023-24), up 108.
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 41/100 (typical 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 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.
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.