Summary:
Anderson 01 serves the city of Williamston, South Carolina, with four public schools—one high school, one middle school, and two elementary schools—covering grades PK-12 for roughly 3,000 students in a small-town setting. The district ranks in the 96th percentile statewide, but performance varies significantly between schools.
Palmetto High is the academic leader, ranking in the top 20% of South Carolina high schools with a 92.6% graduation rate and standout EOCEP scores—92.6% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 82.2% in U.S. History, both far above state averages. However, its 31.2% chronic absenteeism rate is nearly double the district average, a striking contrast to its strong outcomes. Palmetto Middle is a consistent performer, with an exceptional 97.9% Algebra 1 EOCEP pass rate—24 points above the state—and steady rankings in the 79th-83rd percentile over three years.
Among elementary schools, Cedar Grove Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 82nd percentile and improving 59 spots in one year. It outperforms Palmetto Elementary by 17-21 percentage points in most subjects—for example, 3rd grade ELA is 77% vs. 58%, and 4th grade math is 66% vs. 45%. Notably, Palmetto Elementary spends slightly more per student ($12,488 vs. $11,395) and has a better student-teacher ratio (12.9 vs. 13.9), yet lags significantly, suggesting factors beyond resources drive the gap. Both schools show a concerning trend of declining math proficiency from 3rd to 5th grade, though middle school math rebounds by 8th grade. While the district overall is high-performing, the 31-percentile-point gap between the two elementary schools highlights internal disparities that families should consider when choosing a school.
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