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Williams Memorial Elementary

Q: Is Williams Memorial Elementary a good school?

Williams Memorial Elementary ranks 409 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

409^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 38% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Williams Memorial Elementary in Saint George, SC, is a mid-sized school serving 553 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade in the Dorchester 04 district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Williams Memorial stands out as the top-performing school in its district, consistently outpacing nearby schools like Clay Hill Elementary and Harleyville Elementary across most subjects. The school shows particular strength in English Language Arts (ELA), with proficiency rates that climb from 55.1% in 3rd grade to 62.5% in 5th grade—nearly matching the state average. This is a notable achievement given that many neighboring schools, such as Forest Hills Elementary and Bethune-Bowman Elementary, rank in the bottom 20th percentile statewide. However, math proficiency tells a different story. While still above district averages, math scores lag significantly behind ELA—for example, only 37.5% of 5th graders are proficient in math compared to 62.5% in reading. This 25-point gap is a key area of concern for parents to watch.

The school benefits from a favorable 13.1:1 student-to-teacher ratio and high per-pupil spending of $16,841, yet results have been mixed. Chronic absenteeism has risen sharply from 4.4% in 2020-2021 to 25.4% in 2024-2025, which likely contributes to the school's recent dip from a 3-star to a 2-star rating. Interestingly, Lockett Elementary, just 12 miles away in the Orangeburg district, achieves 4-star status with proficiency rates 30-50 points higher, proving that high performance is possible in this region. For parents, Williams Memorial offers strong reading instruction and a supportive environment, but math achievement and attendance are areas where the school needs focused improvement.

553

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,841

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

290 South Metts Street
Saint George, SC 29477

(843) 563-3231

District: Dorchester 04

Racial breakdown:

African American:

44.1%

White:

40.5%

Two or more races:

7.8%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Williams Memorial Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 66th percentile in 2016 → 38th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (50% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 28 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg47%

South Carolina avg58%

409^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 27 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to bottom 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Elementary Schools in the Dorchester 04

56^th of 75Dorchester 04 among South Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.3	409 of 661	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.5	373 of 639	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.3	315 of 643	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.4	321 of 644	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.9	354 of 625	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.2	411 of 622	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.0	255 of 643	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.2	212 of 624	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	68.1	184 of 639	71.2%	★★★★☆
2016	64.3	213 of 619	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	62.7	199 of 638	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	72.2	157 of 630	75.1%	★★★★☆
2013	67.7	185 of 599	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	72.2	145 of 594	75.6%	★★★★☆
2011	66.0	196 of 597	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.9	198 of 589	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	55.6	275 of 580	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	51.9	313 of 577	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.0	305 of 566	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	67.4	178 of 559	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	62.2	227 of 557	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	62.0	216 of 550	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2003	45.9	325 of 542	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.1	301 of 384	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.1	256 of 380	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.4	181 of 369	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.9	88 of 394	77.7%	★★★★☆
2022	44.9	209 of 393	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.7	270 of 350	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	65.9	118 of 421	72.0%	★★★★☆
2018	75.8	61 of 412	85.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	41.0	100 of 189	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.3	72 of 161	55.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.3	341 of 599	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.2	380 of 580	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.1	356 of 568	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.5	341 of 580	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.2	338 of 573	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.4	354 of 554	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.9	240 of 588	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.6	216 of 570	62.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.9	454 of 634	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.5	411 of 612	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.7	303 of 602	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.3	303 of 608	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.0	351 of 600	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.4	428 of 580	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	66.1	195 of 600	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.2	170 of 588	71.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.0	402 of 591	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.3	334 of 585	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.3	243 of 571	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.4	257 of 582	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.5	344 of 579	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.1	409 of 561	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.2	261 of 590	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.1	202 of 571	64.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.6	289 of 463	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.9	312 of 459	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.7	235 of 446	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.9	290 of 463	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.6	299 of 455	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.7	352 of 439	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	55.5	221 of 472	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.5	188 of 457	58.9%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2019)47th percentile-13 vs school

Female (2026)43rd percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)38th percentile~ school

Male (2026)32nd percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)28th percentile-10 vs school

African American (2026)22nd percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts59%-5 vs state

Science46%-6 vs state

Mathematics42%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Williams Memorial Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)			SC READY Mathematics (2026)			SC READY Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2024)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Science 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Williams Memorial Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	290 South Metts Street	Saint George	29477	Dorchester County	Dorchester 04	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 563-3231	553	42	13.1	100.0%	224 (40.5%)	244 (44.1%)	29 (5.2%)	8 (1.4%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.5%)	43 (7.8%)	38.3	409^th of 661 public elementary schools	38.1%		40.5	373^rd of 639 public elementary schools	41.6%	36	55.1	60.4	62.5	44.9	43.8	37.5	45.9	$16,841	$1,811	$1,030	$2,841	$11,832	$2,168	$14,000
Harleyville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1650 East Main Street	Dorchester	29437	Dorchester County	Dorchester 04	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 462-7671	248	27	9.1	100.0%	83 (33.5%)	126 (50.8%)	17 (6.9%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	18 (7.3%)	17.8	558^th of 661 public elementary schools	15.6%		11.3	590^th of 639 public elementary schools	7.7%	32	47.2	52.2	42.2	44.5	34.7	26.7	30.4	$19,121	$2,256	$1,416	$3,672	$13,173	$2,276	$15,449
Lockett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1349 Dorange Road	Branchville	29432	Orangeburg County	Orangeburg	No	No	No	No	(803) 274-8588	239	17	14.3	100.0%	163 (68.2%)	63 (26.4%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.3%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	84.5	88^th of 661 public elementary schools	86.7%		80.6	111^th of 639 public elementary schools	82.6%	23	61.1	81.4	75.6	80.6	88.9	75.6	88.8	$14,651	$447	$827	$1,274	$11,456	$1,921	$13,377
East Lake Elementary	Public	K-5	1490 Brant Avenue	Holly Hill	29059	Orangeburg County	Orangeburg	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(803) 534-5454	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	13.4	601^st of 661 public elementary schools	9.1%					(n/a)	39.8	40.9	46.2	32.7	32.5	30.8	30.1
Northside Elementary	Public	1-5	1929 Industrial Road	Walterboro	29488	Colleton County	Colleton 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 782-0015	428	29	14.7	100.0%	164 (38.3%)	217 (50.7%)	26 (6.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.2%)	15.3	588^th of 661 public elementary schools	11.0%		19.3	533^rd of 639 public elementary schools	16.6%	55	40.3	50.6	47.7	37.7	24.7	34.5	18.5	$15,966	$2,650	$1,839	$4,489	$8,872	$2,605	$11,477
Clay Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	387 South Railroad Avenue	Ridgeville	29472	Dorchester County	Dorchester 04	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 851-7386	174	15	11.6	100.0%	45 (25.9%)	76 (43.7%)	23 (13.2%)	1 (0.6%)	6 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (13.2%)	26.8	484^th of 661 public elementary schools	26.8%		8.2	614^th of 639 public elementary schools	3.9%	130	38.4	53.8		26.9	46.2		50.0	$19,500	$1,949	$1,330	$3,279	$13,134	$3,087	$16,221
Bethune-Bowman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4857 Charleston Highway	Rowesville	29133	Orangeburg County	Orangeburg	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 533-6371	259	19	14.0	100.0%	2 (0.8%)	220 (84.9%)	31 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	12.3	610^th of 661 public elementary schools	7.7%		9.8	601^st of 639 public elementary schools	5.9%	9	45.9	41.2	32.4	37.8	14.7	29.4	35.3	$15,024	$1,262	$1,102	$2,363	$10,874	$1,787	$12,661
Cottageville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	648 Peirce Road	Cottageville	29435	Colleton County	Colleton 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 782-4528	425	34	12.5	100.0%	200 (47.1%)	133 (31.3%)	37 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (11.8%)	11.6	614^th of 661 public elementary schools	7.1%		10	600^th of 639 public elementary schools	6.1%	14	36.6	44.0	46.9	26.4	28.0	28.6	24.0	$15,630	$2,365	$1,935	$4,300	$8,716	$2,614	$11,330
Libertas Academy-Colleton	Public, Charter	K-4	858 Bells Hwy	Walterboro	29488	Colleton County	Charter Institute at Erskine	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(803) 849-2464	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	13.9	598^th of 661 public elementary schools	9.5%					(n/a)	50.0	34.6		47.8	16.0		26.9
Forest Hills Elementary	Public	1-5	633 Hiers Corner Road	Walterboro	29488	Colleton County	Colleton 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 782-4512	472	38	12.4	100.0%	167 (35.4%)	231 (48.9%)	44 (9.3%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.3%)	13.4	602^nd of 661 public elementary schools	8.9%		21.6	515^th of 639 public elementary schools	19.4%	87	34.4	46.2	48.2	27.6	23.4	34.1	30.3	$16,533	$2,580	$2,027	$4,608	$9,513	$2,412	$11,925

Frequently Asked Questions about Williams Memorial Elementary

What schools do graduates of Williams Memorial Elementary attend?

Students who attend Williams Memorial Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Woodland High

How many students attend Williams Memorial Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 553 students attended Williams Memorial Elementary.

Is Williams Memorial Elementary a good school?

Williams Memorial Elementary ranks 409^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Williams Memorial Elementary?

Students at Williams Memorial Elementary are 44% African American, 41% White, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is Williams Memorial Elementary in?

Dorchester 04

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 10, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 3, 2025

2024–25 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresSep 2, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.