Summary:
Hemingway, South Carolina, is served by two elementary schools—Pleasant Hill Elementary STREAM Academy and Hemingway Elementary—both covering grades PK-5 with similar enrollments of roughly 300 and 270 students, respectively, but offering very different academic experiences for local families.
For parents, the clearest takeaway is that Pleasant Hill Elementary STREAM Academy is the stronger overall choice. It holds a 2-star rating, ranks in the 40th percentile statewide (388th out of 649 schools), and outperforms its Georgetown 01 district in most subjects. It also has a better chronic absenteeism rate (17.1% vs. the state’s 22.3%) and a more favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1. However, the school has seen notable year-over-year declines, especially in 5th grade math, where only 20.7% of students are proficient. In contrast, Hemingway Elementary struggles with a 1-star rating, a 25th percentile state rank, and a severe chronic absenteeism rate of 41%—nearly double the state average. It also has a higher student-teacher ratio (14.1:1) and spends slightly more per student ($19,312) while achieving far lower results, raising questions about resource efficiency.
Despite these gaps, both schools share some bright spots. Fourth grade is a standout year at both: Pleasant Hill posts 86.9% ELA proficiency and 76.3% math proficiency, while Hemingway Elementary reaches 70.4% ELA and 55.5% math—both well above their respective districts. Science performance in 4th grade also exceeds district averages at both schools. The most urgent concern is 5th grade math, where both schools fall below 21% proficiency, indicating a systemic challenge. For parents, the priority should be addressing attendance at Hemingway and monitoring grade-level consistency at Pleasant Hill, while recognizing that 4th grade shows what both schools can achieve.
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