Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 32 schools in district

Whale Branch Middle

2009 Trask Parkway, Seabrook, SC 29941Beaufort 01 →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 05–08Non-Charter
331
Students
Total enrolled
$22,414
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 56% vs nat'l
10.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 31% vs nat'l
33/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 33% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 331 students in grades 05–08 in Seabrook, South Carolina.
56% above average funding
District spends $22,414 per pupil, 56% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 33th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Whale Branch Middle is a mid-sized middle in Seabrook, South Carolina, serving grades 05–08 with 331 students. The district invests $22,414 per student — 56% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 33/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Whale Branch Middle

331
Total Students
10.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
100%
Free Lunch
31
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (05–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution186 male · 145 female
56%
44%
Male 56%Female 44%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility100%
National avg 52% · 331 students
Student Composition
11%
78%
White5%
Hispanic / Latino11%
Black78%
Multiracial6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 450111000422

Academic Outcomes at Whale Branch Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
33
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 33th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 6th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 29941

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$22,414Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$22,414
State avg
$17,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$9,862
Student Support$4,259
Administration$2,690
Operations$3,362
Other$2,241
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $22,414 spent per student, an estimated $9,929 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
30%
56%
State government
30.2%
Local (property tax)
56.5%
Federal programs
13.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $22,414/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (33/100) — national median is 50
  • 100% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
River Ridge AcademyPritchardville ElementaryMichael C. Riley ElementaryHilton Head Island Elementary
+15 more
↓
Middle
H. E. McCracken MiddleBluffton MiddleHilton Head Island MiddleLady's Island Middle
+1 more
↓
High School
May River HighBluffton HighHilton Head Island HighBeaufort High
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location—
CountyBeaufort County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictBeaufort 01 →
Phone: (843)466-3000
NCES ID: 450111000422
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Seabrook seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Beaufort 01
High
May River High
1,601 students · 09–12
● 26 opp26% FRL
High
Bluffton High
1,350 students · 09–12
● 26 opp38% FRL
High
Hilton Head Island High
1,345 students · 09–12
● 49 opp40% FRL
High
Beaufort High
1,191 students · 09–12
● 41 opp49% FRL
Elem
River Ridge Academy
1,120 students · PK–08
● 26 opp21% FRL
Elem
Pritchardville Elementary
1,005 students · PK–05
● 26 opp23% FRL
Mid
H. E. McCracken Middle
889 students · 06–08
● 26 opp34% FRL
Mid
Bluffton Middle
872 students · 06–08
● 26 opp45% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
2009 Trask Parkway, Seabrook, SC 29941
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.