Summary:
In the city of Latta, South Carolina, there is just one middle school option for families: Latta Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 as part of the Dillon 03 school district, enrolling 349 students in a small-town setting.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Latta Middle is a school with a clear academic split. It is a standout in mathematics, consistently beating the state average across all grade levels. In the most recent school year, 6th-grade math proficiency was 49.6%, 7th grade was 44.4%, and 8th grade was 52.2%—each landing 2.6 to 8.7 percentage points above the state. The school’s Algebra 1 performance is exceptional, with a 91.43% proficiency rate, far outpacing both the district (67.53%) and the state (73.95%). This suggests a highly effective advanced math program. However, English Language Arts (ELA) is a weaker area, with proficiency rates between 53.7% and 54.5% across grades, trailing the state average by 2 to 5 points. The school holds a 3-star rating and has ranked in the 56th to 62nd percentile statewide over the past three years, improving from 143rd to 121st before settling at 135th.
One notable finding is the volatility in 8th-grade math, which swung from 29.3% proficiency in the prior year to 52.2% most recently—a 22.9-point jump that may reflect a new curriculum or a different cohort of students. In contrast, ELA scores remained stable year-over-year. Chronic absenteeism is 19.3%, which is better than the state’s 22.3% but slightly higher than the district’s 18.2%. The school spends $8,512 per student and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.1 to 1. For families prioritizing strong math instruction, Latta Middle is a solid choice, though those concerned about literacy may want to explore additional support at home or through the school.
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