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Very Good

#35 of 192 private schools in SC

Top 18% of private schools

Foundation Christian School

School

1605 OLD STATE ROAD, Gaston, SC 29053

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on SC statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

41

Student-Teacher

5.1:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#17 of 116

About Foundation Christian School

Foundation Christian School serves 41 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Gaston, South Carolina. This small school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.1 to 1 with 8 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for highly personalized attention and individualized instruction that larger schools often cannot provide. The school has earned a solid 7.1 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks 88th out of 192 schools statewide, placing it in the 55th percentile among South Carolina schools.

This performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education within its intimate learning environment. Foundation Christian School's small size creates a close-knit educational community where students can develop strong relationships with both peers and faculty across all grade levels. The low enrollment allows teachers to know each student individually and tailor their approach to different learning styles and needs.

The school serves families in the 29053 area, where the median household income is $50,534 and the median home value is $101,300. About 10% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while 22.9% of families live below the poverty line. Foundation Christian School operates in a rural setting that offers students a peaceful learning environment away from urban distractions.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 41 students, Foundation Christian School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.1:1, Foundation Christian School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Foundation Christian School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$2,105
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$2,368
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.13x — Strong
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$87,659

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 41 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Foundation Christian School compares to the 2 public schools in Gaston, SC

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.1:1
This School
vs
13.2:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
41
This School
vs
514
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.4
This School
vs
6.1
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 87.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 7.3% vs 0%
Foundation Christian School Gaston Public Avg

All Schools in Gaston

School Rating
Foundation Christian School (this school) 7.4
Frances F. Mack Intermediate 6.2
Sandhills Middle 6.0

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in SC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,464
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 6.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 22%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 2.5 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 41
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in SC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 87.8%
Hispanic 7.3%
Two or More 4.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1605 OLD STATE ROAD, Gaston, SC 29053

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Foundation Christian School may also want to explore other schools in the area. SANDHILLS SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 11.0 miles away, in nearby Columbia), with a comparable rating. Additionally, HAMMOND SCHOOL (rated 6.5/10, 10.5 miles away, in nearby Columbia), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Gaston, see our Gaston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Sandy Run School Swansea 2.2 mi 4.3
Frances F. Mack Intermediate Gaston 6.7 mi 6.2
Lexington Four Early Childhood Center Swansea 7.4 mi 6.4
Sandhills Primary Swansea 7.6 mi 6.7
Sandhills Elementary Swansea 7.6 mi 6.5
Swansea High Swansea 8.5 mi 5.7
Hopkins Elementary Hopkins 9.1 mi 8.0
Swansea High Freshman Academy Swansea 8.8 mi 8.3
Hopkins Middle Hopkins 8.9 mi 6.7
HAMMOND SCHOOL Columbia 10.5 mi 6.5
Cyril B. Busbee Creative Arts Academy Cayce 10.2 mi 6.5
Mill Creek Elementary Columbia 10.6 mi 4.9
Cayce Elementary Cayce 10.5 mi 6.3
Meadowfield Elementary Columbia 11.0 mi 5.6
Sandhills Middle Gaston 9.2 mi 6.0
South Kilbourne Elementary Columbia 11.1 mi 5.8
Pine Ridge Middle West Columbia 10.1 mi 4.9
Annie Burnside Elementary Columbia 11.1 mi 5.9
SANDHILLS SCHOOL Columbia 11.0 mi 7.1
Herbert A. Wood Elementary West Columbia 10.2 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29053 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,141

Median Home Value

$116,700

Median Rent

$947/mo

Population

20,818

College Educated

11.9%

Homeownership

68.3%

Avg Commute

27.7 min

Poverty Rate

21.1%

Median Age

34.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Foundation Christian School has a median household income of $54,141. It is a community where 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $116,700, with a median rent of $947/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
FIRST SOUTHERN METHODIST CHR & WESLEY CHRISTIAN SC Orangeburg, SC 7.4
GLENFOREST SCHOOL West Columbia, SC 7.4
RIVERPOINTE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Charleston, SC 7.4
AGAPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lobeco, SC 7.3
Cedar Springs Academy Spartanburg, SC 7.7
HIDDEN TREASURE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Taylors, SC 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Foundation Christian School

What grades does Foundation Christian School serve?

Foundation Christian School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Foundation Christian School?

Foundation Christian School has an enrollment of approximately 41 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Foundation Christian School?

The student-teacher ratio at Foundation Christian School is 5.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Foundation Christian School rank in SC?

Foundation Christian School is ranked #35 out of 192 private schools in SC.

What is Foundation Christian School's MySchoolScout rating?

Foundation Christian School has a composite rating of 7.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Foundation Christian School a private school?

Yes, Foundation Christian School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Foundation Christian School a religious school?

Foundation Christian School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
23 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,600/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Gaston). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
41
Gender Split
46% M / 54% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
8 hours
Days Per Year
183 days
Setting
Distant Rural
County
CALHOUN
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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