Elementary Schools in Limestone Charters Association

The Limestone Charters Association in South Carolina oversees four elementary schools—Global Academy of School (Spartanburg), Summerville Prep (Summerville), East Link Academy (Greenville), and Goucher Charter Academy (Gaffney)—serving grades PK through 8 with enrollments ranging from 244 to 598 students.

East Link Academy is the clear standout, ranking in the 95th percentile statewide (33rd of 649 schools) with a 5-star rating. Its proficiency rates consistently exceed 70% across all subjects and grades, with several scores above 90%. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (8.2%) and efficient spending at $9,427 per student. In contrast, Goucher Charter Academy struggles most, ranking in the 42nd percentile with a 2-star rating, a 31.1% chronic absenteeism rate (nearly four times East Link's), and the highest spending at $16,223 per student—yet the weakest academic results. Summerville Prep sits in the middle (57th percentile, 3 stars), while Global Academy of School ranks lower (32nd percentile, 2 stars) but shows a unique strength in upper grades, with 8th grade ELA at 73.8% versus the state average of 58.9%.

Key takeaways for parents: spending does not predict success—Goucher spends 72% more per student than East Link yet performs far worse. Chronic absenteeism is a powerful indicator, with lower attendance closely tracking lower performance. Math proficiency declines sharply in upper grades across most schools (e.g., Goucher drops from 66.6% in 3rd grade to 16.2% in 8th grade), suggesting a systemic challenge. East Link's consistency across all subjects and grades makes it a model worth studying, while Global Academy's dramatic year-over-year swings (e.g., 5th grade math falling from 55.5% to 24.3%) warrant caution. Student-teacher ratios don't explain outcomes either—Goucher has the smallest classes (10.1:1) but the weakest results. For parents, East Link Academy is the top choice academically, while Goucher Charter Academy presents clear intervention opportunities around attendance and resource use.