- Enrollment
- 1,328
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbia, SC
W.J. Keenan High
Federal NCES profile for W.J. Keenan High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 450336000954
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W.J. Keenan High earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of South Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Carolina schools.
- #11 of 15
- high schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.1:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
W.J. Keenan High has class sizes smaller than 78% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W.J. Keenan High ranks #11 of 15 high schools in Columbia, SC.
School address
District: Richland 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450336000954 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
W.J. Keenan High held near 719 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 56.0 → 53.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 450336000954 · Columbia, SC High · MID · TRAD
675 enr · 12.1:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: A. C. Flora High (1,328 students)
W.J. Keenan High held near 719 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 56.0 → 53.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
W.J. Keenan High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- A. C. Flora Hi
A. C. Flora High
1,328 students
- Lower Richland
Lower Richland High
1,218 students
- Dreher High
Dreher High
1,144 students
- Crayton Middle
Crayton Middle
952 students
- Brennen Elemen
Brennen Elementary
805 students
- This school
W.J. Keenan High
675 students
What this shows W.J. Keenan High reports 675 students on the CCD universe file.
How W.J. Keenan High compares
W.J. Keenan High held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 12.1:1 | ▼ 15% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 675 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
675
Bigger than 79% 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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 22% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
46.4%
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
$18,992
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 225 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
56
in-school suspensions + 120 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 90.4%
Hispanic or Latino 5.0%
Two or More 3.0%
White 1.5%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 90.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.9, W.J. Keenan High is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
District finance for Richland 01 reports $18,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How W.J. Keenan High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lower Richland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dreher High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crayton Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brennen Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W.J. Keenan High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar high schools in Columbia
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Spring Valley High
Standard public school
2,230 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Ridge View High
Standard public school
1,631 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Richland Northeast High
Standard public school
1,340 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
A. C. Flora High
Standard public school
1,328 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Irmo High
Standard public school
1,272 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Dreher High
Standard public school
1,144 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~675 students)
Frequently asked questions about W.J. Keenan High
How many students attend W.J. Keenan High?
W.J. Keenan High has 675 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbia, SC. CCD year-over-year: 725 (2022-23) → 719 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at W.J. Keenan High?
The student-teacher ratio at W.J. Keenan High is 12.1:1, which is 15% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 23% 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 W.J. Keenan High?
100.0% of students at W.J. Keenan High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W.J. Keenan High?
The largest demographic group at W.J. Keenan High is African American at 90.4% of enrollment, in Columbia, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W.J. Keenan High?
W.J. Keenan High has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 W.J. Keenan High rank among high schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, W.J. Keenan High ranks #11 of 15 high schools in Columbia, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Richland 01?
Besides W.J. Keenan High, Richland 01 also operates A. C. Flora High (1,328 students), Lower Richland High (1,218 students), and Dreher High (1,144 students). See the Richland 01 district page for the complete list.