Summary:
Starr-Iva Middle is the sole middle school in the Anderson 03 district, serving grades 6-8 in Starr, SC, with 616 students and a 4-star rating.
This school is a strong academic performer, consistently beating state averages across nearly every subject and grade level. Its most impressive achievement is a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra 1 EOCEP exam, far exceeding the district (80.3%) and state (74.0%) averages. Math scores also show dramatic year-over-year improvement, with 7th grade jumping from 42.4% to 56.7% and 8th grade from 34.7% to 52.1% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. ELA proficiency is solid in 6th (67.0%) and 7th (69.2%) grades, but dips to 58.9% in 8th grade—exactly matching the state average, which is a notable outlier given the school's typical 7-15 point advantage. The school's district ranks 5th out of 75 in South Carolina, and per-student spending is robust at $12,977 with a favorable 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio.
The main concern is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 30.2%—nearly 8 points above the state average (22.3%) and 5 points above the district (25.3%). This is puzzling given the strong academic results, suggesting that attending students are highly engaged or the school has effective support systems. The school's state ranking has fluctuated between the 74th and 81st percentiles over three years while maintaining a consistent 4-star rating. For parents, this is a high-performing school with exceptional math outcomes and a clear area for improvement in 8th grade reading and attendance. The declining ELA trend by grade level—from 67% in 6th to 58.9% in 8th—is worth monitoring, but overall, Starr-Iva Middle offers a strong educational foundation within a top-tier district.
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