Summary:
The city of Florence, South Carolina is home to 4 middle schools serving grades 6-8: Southside Middle, John W. Moore Middle, Williams Middle, and Henry L. Sneed Middle. These schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, with free and reduced-price lunch eligibility ranging from 61.34% to 100%.
Among the middle schools, John W. Moore Middle stands out as the highest-performing, ranking 109 out of 320 South Carolina middle schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school outperformed the district and state averages in most academic subject areas, particularly in English Language Arts. In contrast, the other middle schools exhibited significant disparities in academic performance, with proficiency rates in 8th grade math ranging from 20.4% at Henry L. Sneed Middle to 52.7% at John W. Moore Middle.
Chronic absenteeism is a concern across all 4 middle schools, with a consistent rate of 22.5% for the 2023-2024 school year, higher than the state average. Additionally, per-student spending varies among the schools, ranging from $12,115 to $14,300, which may reflect differences in resource allocation and funding priorities within the Florence 01 district. These factors, along with the socioeconomic challenges faced by the student populations, suggest areas for further investigation and potential improvement initiatives within the district.
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