Summary:
There are three middle schools serving grades 6-8 in the Spartanburg 06 district, which ranks in the middle tier of South Carolina districts, and these schools show a clear split between two solid performers and one struggling school.
R. P. Dawkins Middle is the most consistent standout, earning a 3-star rating for three straight years and ranking in the 50th percentile statewide. It leads the district in 7th-grade ELA (57% proficient) and 8th-grade math (42.8%), and it achieved a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra 1 EOCEP exam—far above the district's 75.7% and state's 73.95%. L. E. Gable Middle is nearly as strong, also earning 3 stars and a perfect Algebra 1 score, while posting the district's best 6th-grade ELA (56.5%) and science (52%) results. Gable also showed a dramatic turnaround in 8th-grade math, jumping from 20.7% to 41.2% proficiency in one year. By contrast, Fairforest Middle is the clear outlier, with a 1-star rating, a rank of 277th out of 335 schools, and scores below district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. Its ranking has also declined steadily over three years, from 254th to 277th.
All three schools face a common challenge with chronic absenteeism, ranging from 22.7% to 23.9%—above the state average of 22.3%, though below the district's 26.1%. Interestingly, spending does not predict performance: Gable spends the most per student ($13,501) and has the smallest class sizes (12.2:1), yet Dawkins outperforms it while spending $1,427 less per student. Across the district, ELA is a relative strength, with Dawkins and Gable exceeding district averages in every grade, while 7th-grade math remains the weakest subject area. For parents, the choice is clear: Dawkins and Gable are both solid, mid-tier options with strong math acceleration programs, while Fairforest is struggling and may warrant closer scrutiny or additional support.
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