- Enrollment
- 1,731
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Seabrook, SC
Whale Branch Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Whale Branch Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450111000392
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whale Branch Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of South Carolina schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Seabrook · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.2:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Whale Branch Elementary has class sizes smaller than 91% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whale Branch Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Seabrook, SC.
School address
District: Beaufort 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450111000392 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+29 students YoY
Whale Branch Elementary grew from 371 students in 2022-23 to 400 in 2023-24 (+7.8%).
Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 50.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+29 students YoY 450111000392 · Seabrook, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
409 enr · 10.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: May River High (1,731 students)
Whale Branch Elementary grew from 371 students in 2022-23 to 400 in 2023-24 (+7.8%). Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 50.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Whale Branch Elementary 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 409
Whale Branch Elementary
409 students
What this shows Whale Branch Elementary reports 409 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whale Branch Elementary compares
Whale Branch 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 | 10.2:1 | ▼ 29% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 409 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
409
Bigger than 49% 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
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 9% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
41.3%
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
$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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 409 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
26
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 70.7%
Hispanic or Latino 18.3%
Two or More 6.8%
White 3.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 70.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.1, Whale Branch Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
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 Elementary 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 Elementary'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 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 (~409 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Whale Branch Elementary
How many students attend Whale Branch Elementary?
Whale Branch Elementary has 409 students enrolled. It is a public school in Seabrook, SC. CCD year-over-year: 371 (2022-23) → 400 (2023-24), up 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whale Branch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Whale Branch Elementary is 10.2:1, which is 29% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 35% 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 Elementary?
100.0% of students at Whale Branch Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whale Branch Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Whale Branch Elementary is African American at 70.7% of enrollment, in Seabrook, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whale Branch Elementary?
Whale Branch Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Elementary rank among public schools in Seabrook?
By Resource Investment Index, Whale Branch Elementary ranks #3 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 Elementary, 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.