Summary:
The Saluda 01 school district in South Carolina contains three elementary schools—Saluda Primary (PK-2), Hollywood Elementary (PK-5), and Saluda Elementary (3-5)—serving a combined 1,274 students in a rural South Carolina community.
If you are looking for the strongest academic option in this district, Hollywood Elementary is the clear standout. It holds a 3-star rating, ranks in the 59th percentile statewide, and actually beats state averages in several areas—most notably 4th grade math (63.7% proficient vs. 52.3% statewide) and 4th grade science (65.2% vs. 51.6%). In contrast, Saluda Elementary is struggling significantly, with a 0-star rating and only a 4th percentile statewide rank. Across every subject and grade level, Saluda Elementary falls 18 to 42 percentage points behind Hollywood, and its 5th grade ELA proficiency dropped sharply from 52.1% to 37.0% in just one year. Saluda Primary serves the youngest students and has no test data, but its chronic absenteeism rate (18.5%) is below the state average, and it spends a healthy $13,141 per student.
One notable pattern is that the district’s split structure—separating PK-2 from 3-5—may be hurting students. Hollywood Elementary, which keeps students together through 5th grade, outperforms the split model at Saluda Elementary. Also, spending does not explain results: Saluda Elementary spends the least ($11,570 per student) and performs worst, while Hollywood spends the most ($13,545) and performs best. Both schools show a notable weakness in 5th grade math, suggesting a curriculum alignment issue. For parents, Hollywood Elementary is the clear choice if you want strong academics, while Saluda Elementary may require extra support at home to bridge significant learning gaps.
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