Summary:
Sullivans Island, South Carolina, is served by a single, elite public elementary school, Sullivan's Island Elementary, which educates students in grades PK through 5 within the Charleston 01 school district.
For parents, this school is a standout performer by nearly every measure. Sullivan's Island Elementary is currently ranked #5 out of 649 elementary schools in South Carolina, placing it in the top 1% statewide, and it has earned a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. Academically, the school posts proficiency rates that are 25 to 35 percentage points above state averages in every subject and grade level. Its greatest strength is mathematics, where students outperform the state by 33 to 38 points. For example, 5th-grade math proficiency is 87.5% compared to the state average of 49.1%. The school also shows remarkable consistency across grade levels, with all test scores remaining in the 85-95% range, indicating a strong, vertically aligned curriculum. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is just 3.0%, compared to 22.3% statewide, and it invests heavily in students with a per-pupil spending of $18,897 and a favorable 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio.
While the school's trajectory is overwhelmingly positive—improving from #13 to #5 in just two years—there are minor areas to watch. Slight year-over-year declines were seen in 4th and 5th grade ELA scores (each down about 3 points) and 4th grade math (down 1.6 points). However, these are negligible fluctuations in an otherwise exceptional profile. As an outlier within its own district, outperforming Charleston 01 by 20-30 points in every subject, Sullivan's Island Elementary serves as a potential model for best practices. For families in Sullivans Island, this school offers an outstanding educational environment that is among the very best in the state.
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