Enrollment
504
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sumter, SC
Willow Drive Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Willow Drive Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390201062
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Willow Drive Elementary earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of South Carolina schools.
- #11 of 11
- schools in Sumter · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.8:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Willow Drive Elementary has class sizes larger than 74% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Willow Drive Elementary ranks #11 of 11 schools in Sumter, SC.
School address
District: Sumter 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390201062 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Willow Drive Elementary compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Willow Drive Elementary
Willow Drive Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Sumter, South Carolina, enrolling 504 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 504 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 97% of the 1,214 South Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 383 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #361, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (77%) and White (12%) (diversity index 39/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 504 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 55.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Sumter 01 spends $11,507 per pupil, 21% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Sumter's public schools, it stands alongside Pocalla Springs Elementary (609 students): Willow Drive Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 vs 16:1).
Sumter 01 also operates Sumter High School (2,122 students) and Crestwood High (1,105 students) alongside Willow Drive Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Willow Drive Elementary compares
Willow Drive Elementary on the metrics families compare, against South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 504 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
504
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
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
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 74% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
55.6%
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
$11,507
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 504 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 58 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 77.0%
White 11.9%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
Asian 1.8%
Two or More 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 77.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.7, Willow Drive Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sumter 01, which includes Willow Drive Elementary.
$11,507
Per student
-21%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.0%
State 53.3%
Federal 19.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Willow Drive Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crestwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lakewood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alice Drive Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Furman Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Willow Drive Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,122
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,105
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 783
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 700
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Sumter
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pocalla Springs Elementary
Standard public school
609 students 16:1 students per teacher
Millwood Elementary
Standard public school
602 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Alice Drive Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Oakland Primary
Standard public school
520 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Kingsbury Elementary
Standard public school
514 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Crosswell Drive Elementary
Standard public school
481 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~504 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Willow Drive Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Willow Drive Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Sumter 01's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Willow Drive Elementary
How many students attend Willow Drive Elementary?
Willow Drive Elementary has 504 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sumter, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Willow Drive Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Willow Drive Elementary is 15.8:1, which is 10% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Willow Drive Elementary?
100.0% of students at Willow Drive Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Willow Drive Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Willow Drive Elementary is African American at 77.0% of enrollment, in Sumter, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Willow Drive Elementary?
Willow Drive Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Willow Drive Elementary rank among schools in Sumter?
By Resource Investment Index, Willow Drive Elementary ranks #11 of 11 schools in Sumter, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Sumter on the city page.
Is Willow Drive Elementary a good school?
Willow Drive Elementary earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of South Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Sumter 01?
Besides Willow Drive Elementary, Sumter 01 also operates Sumter High School (2,122 students), Crestwood High (1,105 students), and Lakewood High (1,013 students). See the Sumter 01 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.