Summary:
Dillon 04 is home to just one middle school, Dillon Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 with 624 students in a rural South Carolina district ranked near the bottom of the state.
For parents considering Dillon Middle, the most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism: 44.5% of students miss significant school time, compared to 33.7% district-wide and 22.3% statewide. This likely drives the low proficiency rates in core subjects. In projected 2025-2026 scores, ELA proficiency ranges from 36.3% in 6th grade to 42.3% in 7th grade, while math proficiency is even lower, from 16% in 7th grade to 30% in 8th grade—all well below state averages of 56-59% for ELA and 41-44% for math. The school’s state ranking has slipped from the 22nd percentile to the 14th percentile, reflecting these struggles. Per-student spending is $12,840 with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio, but the investment has not yet translated into broad academic gains.
However, there is one remarkable bright spot: 100% of students taking the Algebra 1 EOCEP exam scored proficient, far exceeding the district’s 57.8% and the state’s 74%. This suggests the advanced math program is exceptionally strong for selected students, even as the general math scores lag. The contrast is stark—a school with a world-class algebra pipeline but a majority of students struggling with basic proficiency. For parents, this means Dillon Middle offers excellent opportunities for high-achieving math students, but the broader student body faces significant challenges, particularly around attendance and foundational skills. Addressing the absenteeism crisis will be critical to improving outcomes for all students.
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