Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 9 schools in district

Forest Hills Elementary

633 Hiers Corner Road, Walterboro, SC 29488Colleton 01 →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 01–05Non-Charter
469
Students
Total enrolled
$14,513
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
14.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 8% vs nat'l
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 27% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 469 students in grades 01–05 in Walterboro, South Carolina.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,513 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Forest Hills Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Walterboro, South Carolina, serving grades 01–05 with 469 students. The district invests $14,513 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Forest Hills Elementary

469
Total Students
14.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
100%
Free Lunch
33
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (01–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution244 male · 225 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility100%
National avg 52% · 469 students
Student Composition
35%
51%
Asian1%
White35%
Hispanic / Latino6%
Black51%
Multiracial6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 450183000337

Academic Outcomes at Forest Hills Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 14th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 29488

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,513Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,513
State avg
$17,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,386
Student Support$2,757
Administration$1,742
Operations$2,177
Other$1,451
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,513 spent per student, an estimated $6,429 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
44%
37%
State government
44.4%
Local (property tax)
36.9%
Federal programs
18.7%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (36/100) — 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
Cottageville ElementaryNorthside ElementaryHendersonville ElementaryBlack Street Early Childhood Center
+1 more
↓
Middle
Colleton County Middle
↓
High School
Colleton County HighThunderbolt Career and Technology Center
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
Grades01 – 05
Location—
CountyColleton County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictColleton 01 →
Phone: (843)782-4512
NCES ID: 450183000337
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Walterboro seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Colleton 01
High
Colleton County High
1,497 students · 09–12
● 36 opp100% FRL
Mid
Colleton County Middle
1,121 students · 06–08
● 36 opp100% FRL
Elem
Cottageville Elementary
465 students · PK–05
100% FRL
Elem
Northside Elementary
452 students · 01–05
● 36 opp100% FRL
Elem
Hendersonville Elementary
342 students · PK–05
● 36 opp100% FRL
Elem
Black Street Early Childhood Center
309 students · PK–KG
● 36 opp100% FRL
Elem
Bells Elementary
291 students · PK–05
● 36 opp100% FRL
High
Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center
0 students · 09–12
● 36 opp
District School Rankings
Location
633 Hiers Corner Road, Walterboro, SC 29488
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.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
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.