Summary:
The four elementary schools in Anderson 02—Honea Path Elementary, Marshall Primary, Belton Elementary, and Wright Elementary—serve roughly 1,600 students across PK-5 in a highly ranked South Carolina district that sits at #6 in the state with a 5-star rating.
Wright Elementary is the academic standout despite being the smallest school (193 students). It posted the district’s best 4th grade ELA (79.1%) and 5th grade math (80%) scores in 2025-2026, and it also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (14.9%) and the best student-teacher ratio (13.6:1). However, its state ranking dropped sharply from #38 to #167 due to a 30-point plunge in 3rd grade ELA, likely a cohort effect. Belton Elementary is the most consistent performer, leading the district in 3rd grade math (74.2%) and 4th grade science (58.4%), while also having the lowest per-student spending ($13,639). Honea Path Elementary is the largest school (571 students) and performs near district averages, though its 4th grade science (48.9%) lags both district and state benchmarks. Marshall Primary (PK-2) receives the highest per-student funding ($18,061) but struggles with the highest chronic absenteeism (26.9%).
District-wide, math proficiency exceeds state averages at every grade level—a clear strength—while science results are more uneven. The pairing of Marshall Primary and Belton Elementary as a split campus appears to work well, with early investment paying off in Belton’s strong upper-elementary results. Parents should note that small school sizes, especially at Wright Elementary, can cause significant year-to-year swings in test scores, so it’s wise to look at multi-year trends rather than a single year’s data.
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