- Enrollment
- 1,731
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Seabrook, SC
Whale Branch Middle
Federal NCES profile for Whale Branch Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 450111000422
👥 S:T ratio 69
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 76
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whale Branch Middle earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 97% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Seabrook · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 7.8:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Whale Branch Middle has class sizes smaller than 97% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whale Branch Middle ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Seabrook, SC.
School address
District: Beaufort 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450111000422 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-105 students YoY
Whale Branch Middle shrank from 331 students in 2022-23 to 226 in 2023-24 (-31.7%).
Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-105 students YoY 450111000422 · Seabrook, SC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
243 enr · 7.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: May River High (1,731 students)
Whale Branch Middle shrank from 331 students in 2022-23 to 226 in 2023-24 (-31.7%). Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Whale Branch Middle 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 243
Whale Branch Middle
243 students
What this shows Whale Branch Middle reports 243 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whale Branch Middle compares
Whale Branch Middle 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 | 7.8:1 | ▼ 45% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 243 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7.8:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
243
Bigger than 24% 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
7.8:1
students per teacher
- 45% below state mean
Top 3% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 97% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
63.4%
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 122 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
172
in-school suspensions + 182 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 70.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 145.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 67.5%
Hispanic or Latino 20.6%
Two or More 6.6%
White 5.3%
Largest group: African American at 67.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.5, Whale Branch Middle 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 Middle 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 Middle'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 elementary 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 (~243 students)
Frequently asked questions about Whale Branch Middle
How many students attend Whale Branch Middle?
Whale Branch Middle has 243 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Seabrook, SC. CCD year-over-year: 331 (2022-23) → 226 (2023-24), down 105.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whale Branch Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Whale Branch Middle is 7.8:1, which is 45% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 50% 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 Middle?
100.0% of students at Whale Branch Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whale Branch Middle?
The largest demographic group at Whale Branch Middle is African American at 67.5% of enrollment, in Seabrook, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whale Branch Middle?
Whale Branch Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher 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 Middle rank among public schools in Seabrook?
By Resource Investment Index, Whale Branch Middle ranks #1 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 Middle, 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.