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M. B. Kennedy Middle

Q: Is M. B. Kennedy Middle a good school?

M. B. Kennedy Middle ranks 193 rd of 335 South Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

193^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 335 South Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 42% of South Carolina middle schools

Summary

M. B. Kennedy Middle in Aiken, SC, serves 643 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Aiken 01 district. The school has seen a steady decline in its overall state ranking over the past decade, dropping from a 4-star rating in the mid-2010s to a 2-star rating in the most recent school year, placing it in the 42nd percentile statewide.

The school's most notable strength is its exceptional performance in advanced mathematics. On the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam, M. B. Kennedy students achieved proficiency rates of 93.9% and 95.8% in recent years—dramatically higher than both the district and state averages. However, this success does not extend to the broader student body. On standard SC READY assessments, 7th-grade math proficiency was just 34% and 8th-grade was 32.4%, both below state averages. This contrast suggests the school's advanced math program serves a select group of students exceptionally well, while many other students struggle. The school also faces challenges with chronic absenteeism, which has hovered around 25%—higher than the state average and nearly double the rate at nearby Tall Pines STEM Academy.

Compared to other middle schools in the district, M. B. Kennedy lags behind several peers. Paul Knox Middle (72nd percentile), Highland Springs Middle (76th percentile), and North Augusta Middle (67th percentile) all rank significantly higher. For example, in 8th-grade math, Paul Knox and Highland Springs have proficiency rates nearly 17 percentage points higher than Kennedy's. Notably, the school's per-student spending has increased to $12,016—higher than several higher-performing peers—yet outcomes have not improved. This suggests the issue may not be a lack of resources but rather how they are used to support struggling students. M. B. Kennedy is at a critical point, with clear strengths in advanced math but urgent needs in raising overall achievement and addressing absenteeism.

643

Students ?

19.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,016

Per pupil spending ?

66.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

274 East Pine Log Road
Aiken, SC 29803

(803) 641-2470

District: Aiken 01

Students who attend M. B. Kennedy Middle usually attend:

High:

South Aiken High

Feeder schools for M. B. Kennedy Middle:

Elementary:	Chukker Creek Elementary
	East Aiken School of the Arts
	Millbrook Elementary
	Oakwood-Windsor Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.3%

African American:

34.4%

Hispanic:

13.8%

See top rated South Carolina middle schools

Compare M. B. Kennedy Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 66th percentile in 2016 → 42nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (45% vs 51% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 24 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg44%

South Carolina avg51%

193^rd of 335

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 23 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to bottom 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 10Middle Schools in the Aiken 01

37^th of 75Aiken 01 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	41.9	193 of 335	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.8	184 of 320	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.4	128 of 325	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	134 of 325	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.7	163 of 310	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.1	138 of 311	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.0	86 of 315	72.7%	★★★★☆
2018	70.1	78 of 303	74.3%	★★★★☆
2017	72.9	70 of 317	77.9%	★★★★☆
2016	62.6	104 of 303	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.7	79 of 301	73.8%	★★★★☆
2014	69.1	80 of 291	72.5%	★★★★☆
2013	67.0	84 of 276	69.6%	★★★★☆
2012	71.2	75 of 271	72.3%	★★★★☆
2011	68.7	90 of 269	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	81.3	34 of 261	87.0%	★★★★☆
2009	80.3	39 of 249	84.3%	★★★★☆
2008	82.0	29 of 244	88.1%	★★★★☆
2007	79.1	38 of 236	83.9%	★★★★☆
2006	88.8	12 of 231	94.8%	★★★★★
2005	88.9	12 of 230	94.8%	★★★★★
2004	89.5	13 of 230	94.3%	★★★★★
2003	86.9	18 of 225	92.0%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.8	189 of 257	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.7	161 of 252	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.6	66 of 248	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	62.6	70 of 253	72.3%	★★★★☆
2022	49.7	108 of 249	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.8	127 of 235	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.0	112 of 252	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.9	88 of 237	62.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.7	173 of 191	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	33.3	129 of 184	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.9	132 of 177	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.1	109 of 187	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.9	149 of 183	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.7	115 of 164	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.8	111 of 195	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.6	150 of 194	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.1	67 of 113	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	26.0	86 of 108	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.3	55 of 105	47.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.8	39 of 87	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.4	43 of 93	53.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	199 of 305	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.3	198 of 295	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.6	124 of 294	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.8	125 of 299	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.9	158 of 290	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.6	138 of 279	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.7	92 of 296	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.4	79 of 281	71.9%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	57.8	107 of 185	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.0	122 of 173	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	71.2	49 of 183	73.2%	★★★★☆
2023	55.9	104 of 185	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.1	121 of 182	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.2	116 of 179	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.7	114 of 159	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.8	128 of 156	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.8	82 of 144	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.4	74 of 141	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.1	64 of 129	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.0	62 of 111	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.3	80 of 139	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.2	103 of 123	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.5	223 of 320	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.5	225 of 307	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	48.9	140 of 307	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.5	119 of 313	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	153 of 300	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.0	151 of 288	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.3	102 of 289	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.2	120 of 280	57.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.1	164 of 306	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.5	153 of 296	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.9	110 of 294	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.0	124 of 303	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.3	149 of 292	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.6	117 of 279	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.1	73 of 296	75.3%	★★★★☆
2018	71.3	71 of 284	75.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	43.0	25 of 44	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.2	129 of 268	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.0	150 of 257	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.1	118 of 255	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.2	124 of 260	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.3	171 of 249	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.9	122 of 244	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.4	74 of 258	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	72.6	60 of 250	76.0%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2026)52nd percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)46th percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2022)43rd percentile-4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)42nd percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)41st percentile~ school

Female (2026)35th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)30th percentile-12 vs school

Hispanic (2026)28th percentile-14 vs school

African American (2026)26th percentile-16 vs school

Disabled (2026)9th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts56%-3 vs state

Mathematics33%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near M. B. Kennedy Middle

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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	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 5th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 6th 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
M. B. Kennedy Middle	Public	6-8	274 East Pine Log Road	Aiken	29803	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 641-2470	643	34	19.0		285 (44.3%)	221 (34.4%)	89 (13.8%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (6.2%)	41.9	193^rd of 335 public middle schools	42.4%		40.8	184^th of 320 public middle schools	42.5%	9			55.2	57.0			34.0	32.4		$12,016	$723	$1,169	$1,892	$9,051	$1,073	$10,124
Schofield Middle	Public	7-8	224 Kershaw Street Northeast	Aiken	29801	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 641-2770	356	26	13.6		76 (21.3%)	208 (58.4%)	52 (14.6%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.9%)	17.3	291^st of 335 public middle schools	13.1%		14.8	279^th of 320 public middle schools	12.8%	12			37.8	43.9			20.6	27.5		$14,127	$617	$1,270	$1,888	$10,793	$1,446	$12,239
Aiken Intermediate	Public	6	101 Gator Lane	Aiken	29801	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 641-2570	427	26	16.7		155 (36.3%)	189 (44.3%)	53 (12.4%)	6 (1.4%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.9%)								(n/a)		51.0				30.1			53.2	$10,621	$882	$927	$1,808	$7,946	$866	$8,812
Leavelle McCampbell Middle	Public	6-8	1120 Weldon Way	Graniteville	29829	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 663-4300	540	26	20.7		207 (38.3%)	194 (35.9%)	99 (18.3%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (6.1%)	32.6	224^th of 335 public middle schools	33.1%		27.2	242^nd of 320 public middle schools	24.4%	18		50.3	55.2	43.1		32.3	25.8	17.0	47.1	$11,195	$568	$1,188	$1,756	$8,443	$997	$9,440
New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	814 Main Street South	New Ellenton	29809	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 652-8200	274	21	13.0		114 (41.6%)	83 (30.3%)	57 (20.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.9%)	49	160^th of 335 public middle schools	52.2%		46	159^th of 320 public middle schools	50.3%	1		58.5	48.3	68.3		39.1	27.0	27.0	63.4	$14,677	$632	$1,229	$1,861	$11,551	$1,265	$12,816
Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle	Public	6-8	29 Lions Trail	Warrenville	29851	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 593-7260	476	29	16.4		238 (50.0%)	109 (22.9%)	105 (22.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.6%)	21.9	268^th of 335 public middle schools	20.0%		22.7	252^nd of 320 public middle schools	21.3%	16		36.7	47.3	49.3		20.2	19.9	26.8	38.6	$12,604	$1,248	$1,067	$2,315	$9,201	$1,088	$10,289
Highland Springs Middle	Public	6-8	822 Fountainhead Drive	North Augusta	29841	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(803) 844-9601	534	28	19.0		255 (47.8%)	144 (27.0%)	94 (17.6%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.9%)	72.1	80^th of 335 public middle schools	76.1%		56.4	124^th of 320 public middle schools	61.3%	44		60.1	64.5	72.7		48.0	48.6	49.3	61.3	$13,335	$839	$1,155	$1,994	$9,977	$1,364	$11,341
Tall Pines STEM Academy	Public, Charter	5-8	550 Camp Long Rd	Aiken	29805	Aiken County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 502-1692	382	25	15.2		326 (85.3%)	15 (3.9%)	19 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (5.2%)	77.5	66^th of 335 public middle schools	80.3%		74	72^nd of 320 public middle schools	77.5%	6	86.0	72.7	66.0	74.2	63.0	52.5	53.0	47.8	59.6	$11,482	$60	$236	$296	$186	$11,001	$11,186
Jackson STEM Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	18371 Atomic Road	Jackson	29831	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 279-3525	302	20	15.1		132 (43.7%)	116 (38.4%)	30 (9.9%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.3%)	29.2	246^th of 335 public middle schools	26.6%		31.9	222^nd of 320 public middle schools	30.6%	24		40.0	54.7	47.3		19.0	24.4	31.6	47.5	$13,573	$596	$1,165	$1,761	$10,909	$903	$11,812
North Augusta Middle	Public	6-8	725 Old Edgefield Road	North Augusta	29841	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 442-6200	492	27	18.2		211 (42.9%)	137 (27.8%)	102 (20.7%)	5 (1.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.9%)	61.9	110^th of 335 public middle schools	67.2%		55.7	126^th of 320 public middle schools	60.6%	16		57.8	60.4	62.4		49.1	41.6	41.5	57.9	$11,811	$855	$1,067	$1,922	$8,624	$1,266	$9,889

Frequently Asked Questions about M. B. Kennedy Middle

What high school do graduates of M. B. Kennedy Middle attend?

Students who attend M. B. Kennedy Middle usually go on to attend South Aiken High

Is M. B. Kennedy Middle a good school?

M. B. Kennedy Middle ranks 193^rd of 335 South Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of M. B. Kennedy Middle?

Students at M. B. Kennedy Middle are 44% White, 34% African American, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

What district is M. B. Kennedy Middle in?

Aiken 01

How many students attend M. B. Kennedy Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 643 students attended M. B. Kennedy Middle.

Rate M. B. Kennedy Middle!

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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.