Bells Elementary

Colleton 01
12088 Bells Highway
Ruffin, SC 29475
291 Students
Elementary School Pre-K - 5th
School Overview
Bells Elementary School, located in the rural community of Ruffin, South Carolina, serves as a central educational hub within the Colleton County School District. Situated along Bells Highway, the school is deeply integrated into the local landscape, fostering a close-knit environment where educators, students, and families work collaboratively. As a primary school, it focuses on building a strong academic foundation in core subjects while emphasizing the social and emotional development of its young learners during their formative years.

The school is known for its commitment to providing a supportive and nurturing atmosphere that reflects the small-town values of the surrounding Colleton County area. By offering a curriculum tailored to meet state standards, Bells Elementary strives to prepare its students for future academic success. Through various school programs and community engagement efforts, the administration works to ensure that students receive a well-rounded educational experience that encourages both personal growth and a sense of belonging within the Ruffin community.
291
Total Students
21.0
Full-Time Teachers
13.9
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • Black
    126 (43.3 %)
  • White
    125 (43.0 %)
  • Hispanic
    30 (10.3 %)
  • Two or More
    8 (2.7 %)
  • American Indian
    1 (0.3 %)
  • Pacific Islander
    1 (0.3 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Elementary School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status: No
District: Colleton 01
Phone: (843)782-0012
Grade Range: Pre-K - 5th
Total Students: 291
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 21.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 13.9
NSLP Participation:1 Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch: 0
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

1 National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught
Pre-Kindergarten 20
Kindergarten 33
Grade 1 49
Grade 2 48
Grade 3 51
Grade 4 48
Grade 5 42
Gender Ratio