Summary:
Clearwater, South Carolina is served by a single school, Clearwater Elementary, a PK-5 school with 338 students in the Aiken 01 district.
For parents considering Clearwater Elementary, the most important takeaway is that the school shows a mixed but concerning performance profile. The school has declined in state rankings over three years, dropping from the 36th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 22nd percentile in 2025-2026, and its star rating fell from 2 stars to 1 star. The school's strongest area is 3rd-grade English Language Arts, where 59.6% of students are proficient, but performance generally declines as students advance. Math is a particular weakness, with only 28% of 4th graders and 28.9% of 5th graders proficient in 2025-2026, compared to state averages of 52.3% and 49.1% respectively. Science is also a significant gap, with just 30% of 4th graders proficient versus 51.6% statewide. The school does have a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 and spends $14,515 per student, yet outcomes remain below district and state averages in nearly every subject.
There are a few bright spots worth noting. In 2024-2025, 3rd-grade math proficiency (57.1%) actually exceeded both the district (51.4%) and state (56.3%) averages, showing the school's potential. However, this was followed by an 11-point drop to 46.2% the next year, suggesting volatility that may be cohort-related. Chronic absenteeism affects 22% of students, which is essentially at the state average and slightly below the district's 25.1% rate. The concerning trajectory—declining rankings, falling star ratings, and widening gaps in upper elementary grades—suggests that while the school has resources and some pockets of success, families should be aware that academic challenges intensify as children progress through the grade levels, particularly in math and science.
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