- Enrollment
- 1,731
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Seabrook, SC
Whale Branch Early College High
Federal NCES profile for Whale Branch Early College High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450111001550
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whale Branch Early College High earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of South Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Seabrook · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.3:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Whale Branch Early College High has class sizes smaller than 90% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whale Branch Early College High ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Seabrook, SC.
School address
District: Beaufort 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450111001550 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
Whale Branch Early College High shrank from 476 students in 2022-23 to 450 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 46.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-26 students YoY 450111001550 · Seabrook, SC High · SMALL · TRAD
390 enr · 10.3:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: May River High (1,731 students)
Whale Branch Early College High shrank from 476 students in 2022-23 to 450 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 46.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Whale Branch Early College High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- May River High
May River High
1,731 students
- Bluffton High
Bluffton High
1,375 students
- Hilton Head Is
Hilton Head Island High
1,265 students
- River Ridge Ac
River Ridge Academy
1,134 students
- Beaufort High
Beaufort High
1,104 students
- This school 390
Whale Branch Early College High
390 students
What this shows Whale Branch Early College High reports 390 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whale Branch Early College High compares
Whale Branch Early College High is a shrinking 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 | 10.3:1 | ▼ 28% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 390 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.3:1
Leaner classes than 87% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
390
Bigger than 46% 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
10.3:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 10% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
71.0%
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
$17,232
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 195 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
140
in-school suspensions + 99 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 35.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 61.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 81.8%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
White 6.4%
Two or More 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 81.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.8, Whale Branch Early College High is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Beaufort 01 reports $17,232 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Whale Branch Early College High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| May River High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bluffton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hilton Head Island High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| River Ridge Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beaufort High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whale Branch Early College High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,375
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,265
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,134
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 1,104
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
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 (~390 students)
Frequently asked questions about Whale Branch Early College High
How many students attend Whale Branch Early College High?
Whale Branch Early College High has 390 students enrolled. It is a high school in Seabrook, SC. CCD year-over-year: 476 (2022-23) → 450 (2023-24), down 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whale Branch Early College High?
The student-teacher ratio at Whale Branch Early College High is 10.3:1, which is 28% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 34% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Whale Branch Early College High?
100.0% of students at Whale Branch Early College High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whale Branch Early College High?
The largest demographic group at Whale Branch Early College High is African American at 81.8% of enrollment, in Seabrook, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whale Branch Early College High?
Whale Branch Early College High has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Whale Branch Early College High rank among public schools in Seabrook?
By Resource Investment Index, Whale Branch Early College High ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Seabrook, 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 Beaufort 01?
Besides Whale Branch Early College High, Beaufort 01 also operates May River High (1,731 students), Bluffton High (1,375 students), and Hilton Head Island High (1,265 students). See the Beaufort 01 district page for the complete list.