Summary:
Jackson, South Carolina, is served by a single middle school, Jackson STEM Middle, which educates students in grades 6 through 8 within the Aiken 01 school district.
For parents considering this area, the most important takeaway is that Jackson STEM Middle is the only school option, and it presents a mixed picture. The school has a specialized STEM focus, yet its mathematics proficiency is a significant concern. In the 2025-2026 school year, math proficiency rates were 19% in 6th grade, 24.4% in 7th grade, and 31.6% in 8th grade—all well below state averages by roughly 12 to 22 percentage points. English Language Arts performance is more varied, with 7th grade (54.7%) nearly matching the district average, while 6th grade (40%) and 8th grade (47.3%) lag behind. Science is the strongest subject at 47.5% proficiency, just 4.4 points below the state. The school also spends a substantial $13,573 per student, yet outcomes do not reflect that investment.
Another key issue is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 28.2%—higher than both the district (25.1%) and state (22.3%). This likely contributes to academic struggles. The school's state ranking has also declined steadily, from the 38th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 27th percentile in 2025-2026, dropping 45 absolute positions. On a more positive note, math proficiency improves as students advance through grade levels, suggesting some catch-up growth. However, the 6th grade ELA score fell sharply by 11.7 points year-over-year, which may signal cohort-specific challenges. Overall, parents should be aware that while the school offers a STEM identity and strong per-student funding, it faces real hurdles in math achievement, attendance, and a downward ranking trend that warrant close attention.
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