- Enrollment
- 992
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Orangeburg, SC
Whittaker Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Whittaker Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450391000869
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whittaker Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #5 of 5
- schools in Orangeburg · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Whittaker Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whittaker Elementary ranks #5 of 5 schools in Orangeburg, SC.
School address
District: Orangeburg · South Carolina
NCES ID 450391000869 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-46 students YoY
Whittaker Elementary shrank from 415 students in 2022-23 to 369 in 2023-24 (-11.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 21.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-46 students YoY 450391000869 · Orangeburg, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
325 enr · 14.1:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Orangeburg Wilkinson High (992 students)
Whittaker Elementary shrank from 415 students in 2022-23 to 369 in 2023-24 (-11.1%). Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 21.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Whittaker Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Orangeburg Wil
Orangeburg Wilkinson High
992 students
- Lake Marion Hi
Lake Marion High School
692 students
- Edisto Primary
Edisto Primary
635 students
- Marshall Eleme
Marshall Elementary
625 students
- Edisto High
Edisto High
614 students
- This school 325
Whittaker Elementary
325 students
What this shows Whittaker Elementary reports 325 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whittaker Elementary compares
Whittaker Elementary 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 | 14.1:1 | ▼ 1% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 325 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
325
Bigger than 36% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 51% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.2%
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
$16,571
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 325 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 36 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 88.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%
White 2.2%
Two or More 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 88.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.4, Whittaker Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Orangeburg reports $16,571 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Whittaker Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg Wilkinson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lake Marion High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edisto Primary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Marshall Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edisto High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whittaker Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 692
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 635
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 625
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Orangeburg
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Marshall Elementary
Standard public school
625 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Sheridan Elementary
Standard public school
450 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Rivelon Elementary
Standard public school
222 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Brookdale Elementary
Standard public school
215 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
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 (~325 students)
Frequently asked questions about Whittaker Elementary
How many students attend Whittaker Elementary?
Whittaker Elementary has 325 students enrolled. It is a public school in Orangeburg, SC. CCD year-over-year: 415 (2022-23) → 369 (2023-24), down 46.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whittaker Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Whittaker Elementary is 14.1:1, which is 1% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 10% 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 Whittaker Elementary?
100.0% of students at Whittaker Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whittaker Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Whittaker Elementary is African American at 88.9% of enrollment, in Orangeburg, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whittaker Elementary?
Whittaker Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Whittaker Elementary rank among schools in Orangeburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Whittaker Elementary ranks #5 of 5 schools in Orangeburg, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Orangeburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Orangeburg?
Besides Whittaker Elementary, Orangeburg also operates Orangeburg Wilkinson High (992 students), Lake Marion High School (692 students), and Edisto Primary (635 students). See the Orangeburg district page for the complete list.