Elementary Schools in Spartanburg 02

The Spartanburg 02 school district is home to 9 elementary schools serving grades PK-5, and it ranks as a top-tier district in South Carolina, coming in at #7 out of 75 districts statewide with a 5-star rating. Serving a total of 5,697 students, the district consistently outperforms state averages across nearly all subjects and grade levels, making it a strong choice for families seeking a high-quality education in the Spartanburg area.

When looking at individual schools, Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary is the clear academic leader, ranking #52 in the state and showing a steady upward trend over three years. Despite being one of the smallest schools, it posts remarkable scores—like 86.9% proficiency in 4th grade ELA and 85.2% in 3rd grade math—and also has the highest per-student spending at $14,852. Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary is the consistency champion, with stable top-quartile rankings and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at just 10.1%. On the other end, Boiling Springs Elementary has seen a concerning decline, dropping from the 74th to the 48th percentile over three years, with notable weaknesses in 4th and 5th grade math. Sugar Ridge Elementary is the most improved school, jumping to the 84th percentile, while James H. Hendrix Elementary shows a troubling pattern of strong 3rd grade scores that deteriorate significantly by 5th grade, especially in math.

District-wide, English Language Arts is a clear strength, with 4th and 5th grade scores beating the state by 6-7 percentage points. However, 5th grade math is the weakest subject, with a district average of just 55.2% proficiency—a significant drop-off from 3rd grade performance. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.8%, better than the state's 22.3%, and schools with lower absenteeism tend to perform better academically. Year-to-year scores can be volatile, suggesting cohort differences play a big role, but the district's overall strong performance and consistent top performers like Chesnee Elementary make Spartanburg 02 a reliable, above-average district for elementary education.