Best Elementary Schools in Dillon, SC

Dillon, South Carolina is served by two elementary schools within the Dillon 04 school district, which together educate 1,376 students in grades PK-5 and face significant academic challenges compared to state averages. For parents exploring their options, the key takeaway is that Dillon Elementary (PK-3) is the much larger school with 1,025 students and a higher student-teacher ratio of 18.3, while Gordon Elementary (4-5) is smaller with 351 students and a more favorable ratio of 15.2. Neither school approaches state proficiency averages, but Gordon Elementary shows a notable bright spot in 4th-grade English Language Arts, where 45.4% of students are proficient—a full 6 points above the district average and a nearly 10-point improvement over the previous year.

Looking at the academic data, math is a critical weakness across both schools. Dillon Elementary's 3rd-grade math proficiency of 32.4% is the highest in the district, yet it remains far below the state average of 59.2%. At Gordon Elementary, math proficiency declines sharply by grade, falling from 27.8% in 4th grade to just 22.0% in 5th grade. A similar downward trend appears in ELA, where Dillon Elementary's 3rd-grade rate of 42.4% drops to 37.6% by 5th grade at Gordon Elementary. This pattern suggests students may be falling further behind as they progress, or that academic expectations are exposing learning gaps that were not previously addressed.

One of the most concerning findings is the chronic absenteeism rate at Gordon Elementary, which stands at 33.4%—50% higher than the state average of 22.3%. This likely plays a major role in the school's declining state ranking, which has slipped from the 12th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 7th percentile in 2025-2026. Despite spending a substantial $13,084 per student, Gordon Elementary struggles with consistency, showing a strong 4th-grade performance that does not carry into 5th grade. For parents, this data points to a district in need of systemic support, particularly in mathematics and attendance, with Gordon Elementary's 4th-grade team offering a potential model for improvement.