Elementary Schools in Fairfield 01

The five elementary schools in Fairfield 01 serve grades PK through 6 in a South Carolina district that ranks in the 55th percentile statewide, with enrollments ranging from 106 to 418 students. This small district is defined by dramatic contrasts, containing both one of the top-performing schools in the state and one of the lowest-ranked.

Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science is the clear standout, ranking 22nd out of 649 schools statewide (97th percentile) with a 5-star rating and showing consistent improvement over three years. It boasts remarkably low chronic absenteeism at 6.1%—less than one-third the district rate—and exceptional test scores, with ELA proficiency between 85-89%. Geiger Elementary is a solid mid-tier option, ranking in the 62nd percentile with a 3-star rating and chronic absenteeism at 10.9%, roughly half the district average. Kelly Miller Elementary sits in the 38th percentile with a 2-star rating, though its 3rd grade ELA proficiency (81%) exceeds district and state averages. At the other extreme, Fairfield Elementary ranks in the bottom 4% statewide with a 0-star rating, the highest chronic absenteeism (22.4%), and a dramatic decline in upper grades—6th grade ELA proficiency drops to just 13% and math to 8.5%. McCrorey-Liston School of Technology lacks recent ranking data, but spends the most per student ($29,521) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (8.1:1).

The most striking finding is that spending does not correlate with performance—McCrorey-Liston spends nearly 50% more per student than Geiger yet has no recent performance data, while Fairfield Magnet achieves top-5% results with $24,046 per student. Chronic absenteeism strongly tracks with outcomes: schools with lower absenteeism consistently rank higher. District-wide, math proficiency trails ELA by 10-20 points at every school, including Fairfield Magnet where 6th grade math drops to 58.8%. For parents, this district offers a wide spectrum of options, from the exceptional magnet school to schools needing significant support, making school choice and attendance priorities critical factors in student success.