Summary:
The Laurens 56 school district in South Carolina contains three elementary schools—Eastside Elementary, Clinton Elementary, and Joanna-Woodson Elementary—serving grades K-5 with a combined enrollment of roughly 1,177 students.
Eastside Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the top 27% of South Carolina elementary schools with a 4-star rating. It outperforms both district and state averages in every subject and grade level, with 3rd-grade ELA proficiency at 76% and math proficiency ranging from 54% to 64%. By contrast, Clinton Elementary has suffered a dramatic decline, falling from a 3-star to a 1-star rating in just two years. Its 4th-grade math proficiency sits at just 20.6%—a 32-point gap from the state average. Joanna-Woodson Elementary shows inconsistent performance, with stronger 5th-grade results but significant struggles in 4th grade, where only 22% of students are proficient in math.
The most striking finding is that spending does not correlate with success. Joanna-Woodson spends the most per student ($17,683) and has the smallest class sizes (11.2:1 ratio), yet achieves the lowest overall performance. Meanwhile, Eastside spends the least ($14,193) with larger classes (14.9:1) and achieves the best results. All three schools face a systemic 4th-grade math crisis, with proficiency dropping sharply from 3rd grade. Chronic absenteeism is below the state average across the district, though Eastside has the highest rate (19%) yet still excels academically. For parents, Eastside is the clear choice for consistent, high-quality instruction, while the other two schools present significant academic challenges that warrant careful consideration.
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