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Whale Branch Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

510^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Whale Branch Elementary is a PK-5 public school in the rural community of Seabrook, SC, serving 409 students as part of the Beaufort 01 school district.

This school has shown remarkable progress over the past few years. In the 2022-2023 school year, it ranked near the very bottom of all elementary schools in the state, but by the 2025-2026 school year, it had climbed to the 23rd percentile—a dramatic leap that shows real momentum. One of the most notable strengths is the school's work with its African American students, who now rank in the 65th percentile statewide, a huge jump from the 15th percentile just two years earlier. This is a standout success story, especially when compared to similar schools like Robert Smalls Leadership Academy (14th percentile) and Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary (11th percentile), both of which serve similar populations but haven't seen the same gains. The school also invests heavily in its students, spending $26,592 per student and maintaining a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 8.7:1—lower than nearby Broad River Elementary (10.1:1) and Riverview Charter School (13.2:1).

Despite these strengths, challenges remain. Chronic absenteeism affects 28.7% of students, which is higher than the district average of 21.3% and much higher than Port Royal Elementary (12.0%). This is likely the biggest barrier to even greater success. There's also a concerning drop in math proficiency by 5th grade—only 29.8% of 5th graders are proficient in math, compared to 42.6% of 3rd graders. The school has recovered strongly from a difficult post-COVID period, roughly doubling proficiency rates across most subjects, and with continued focus on attendance and upper-grade math, it's well-positioned to keep climbing.

409

Students ?

8.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,592

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

15 Stuart Point Road
Seabrook, SC 29940

(843) 466-1000

District: Beaufort 01

Students who attend Whale Branch Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Whale Branch Middle
High:	Whale Branch Early College High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

70.7%

Hispanic:

18.3%

Two or more races:

6.8%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Whale Branch Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 8th percentile in 2016 → 23rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (43% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 17 pts below the South Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg58%

South Carolina avg58%

510^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 8% (2016) to bottom 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^th of 19Elementary Schools in the Beaufort 01

28^th of 75Beaufort 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	23.5	510 of 661	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.3	495 of 639	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.0	592 of 643	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.0	641 of 644	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.6	625 of 625	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	6.4	609 of 622	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.5	616 of 643	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	12.8	569 of 624	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	17.4	562 of 639	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	13.6	570 of 619	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	17.0	585 of 638	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	17.2	578 of 630	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	26.0	495 of 599	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	11.6	553 of 594	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	12.3	560 of 597	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	6.5	573 of 589	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	8.8	558 of 580	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	10.0	553 of 577	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	8.6	543 of 566	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	7.0	539 of 559	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	4.3	553 of 557	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	4.3	545 of 550	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	4.7	535 of 542	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.2	136 of 384	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.6	147 of 380	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	24.3	313 of 369	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.4	387 of 394	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.5	391 of 393	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.4	283 of 350	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.8	394 of 421	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	25.3	351 of 412	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.9	509 of 599	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.0	513 of 580	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	7.8	551 of 568	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.5	575 of 580	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.0	573 of 573	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.2	500 of 554	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	5.9	575 of 588	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.2	489 of 570	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	423 of 634	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.4	429 of 612	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	13.7	555 of 602	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.6	605 of 608	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.1	600 of 600	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.6	568 of 580	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.9	576 of 600	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.8	530 of 588	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	25.7	439 of 591	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.3	413 of 585	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.0	492 of 571	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	3.9	577 of 582	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.5	574 of 579	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.0	560 of 561	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.2	558 of 590	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.4	547 of 571	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)65th percentile+42 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)33rd percentile+10 vs school

Male (2026)26th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)15th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%-17 vs state

Mathematics40%-13 vs state

Science37%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whale Branch 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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 4th 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
Whale Branch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	15 Stuart Point Road	Seabrook	29940	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 466-1000	409	47	8.7	100.0%	16 (3.9%)	289 (70.7%)	75 (18.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.8%)	23.5	510^th of 661 public elementary schools	22.8%		24.3	495^th of 639 public elementary schools	22.5%	15	45.9	53.0	44.7				42.6	47.0	29.8				36.6		$26,592	$1,931	$875	$2,806	$18,854	$4,932	$23,786
Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	121 Morrall Drive	Beaufort	29906	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 466-3400	416	47	8.8	100.0%	30 (7.2%)	189 (45.4%)	166 (39.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.5%)	14.9	590^th of 661 public elementary schools	10.7%		9.7	603^rd of 639 public elementary schools	5.6%	13	50.9	42.1	40.8				30.9	36.8	21.1				35.1		$25,040	$1,999	$739	$2,738	$19,051	$3,250	$22,302
Robert Smalls Leadership Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	43 W. K. Alston Drive	Beaufort	29906	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 322-2500	785	71	11.0	100.0%	108 (13.8%)	358 (45.6%)	248 (31.6%)	13 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	55 (7.0%)	17.1	566^th of 661 public elementary schools	14.4%		19.6	531^st of 639 public elementary schools	16.9%	35	36.7	34.7	41.5	45.2	47.7	46.4	31.2	20.4	34.2	21.2	22.8	26.6	26.5	33.1	$19,315	$1,285	$518	$1,803	$14,691	$2,821	$17,512
Broad River Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	474 Broad River Road	Beaufort	29906	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 322-8400	467	46	10.1	100.0%	86 (18.4%)	172 (36.8%)	134 (28.7%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (14.8%)	24.7	503^rd of 661 public elementary schools	23.9%		32.4	432^nd of 639 public elementary schools	32.4%	71	44.8	56.1	53.8				42.7	36.3	37.2				34.8		$20,751	$1,859	$806	$2,665	$14,866	$3,221	$18,086
Beaufort Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1800 Prince Street	Beaufort	29902	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 322-2600	375	46	8.2	100.0%	110 (29.3%)	185 (49.3%)	40 (10.7%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.6%)	41.8	389^th of 661 public elementary schools	41.1%		53.3	286^th of 639 public elementary schools	55.2%	103	63.4	58.9	56.5				59.6	44.6	34.8				46.5		$29,935	$2,095	$755	$2,849	$23,096	$3,990	$27,086
Coosa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	45 Middle Road	Beaufort	29907	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 322-6100	467	36	12.9	47.2%	289 (61.9%)	76 (16.3%)	50 (10.7%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (9.6%)	80.9	119^th of 661 public elementary schools	82.0%		87	69^th of 639 public elementary schools	89.2%	50	74.3	83.2	77.1				64.2	69.9	57.8				69.9		$18,666	$671	$431	$1,102	$14,686	$2,877	$17,563
Mossy Oaks Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2510 Mossy Oaks Road	Beaufort	29902	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 322-2900	327	42	7.7	100.0%	92 (28.1%)	131 (40.1%)	41 (12.5%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	54 (16.5%)	34.4	431^st of 661 public elementary schools	34.8%		50.7	305^th of 639 public elementary schools	52.3%	126	36.9	58.5	62.5				26.0	39.0	48.2				48.8		$23,408	$1,041	$702	$1,742	$17,227	$4,439	$21,666
Riverview Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	81 Savannah Highway	Beaufort	29906	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	Yes	No	No	No	(843) 379-0133	694	52	13.2	43.8%	392 (56.5%)	175 (25.2%)	78 (11.2%)	11 (1.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.0%)	84.8	86^th of 661 public elementary schools	87.0%		69.8	197^th of 639 public elementary schools	69.2%	111	83.4	81.0	75.1	77.2	81.7	85.0	71.8	65.8	63.8	62.8	49.3	75.0	67.0	64.5	$18,820	$278	$140	$418	$15,525	$2,877	$18,402
Port Royal Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1214 Paris Avenue	Port Royal	29935	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 322-0820	179	24	7.6	100.0%	51 (28.5%)	71 (39.7%)	42 (23.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (8.4%)	51.7	301^st of 661 public elementary schools	54.5%		41.2	364^th of 639 public elementary schools	43.0%	63	68.9		54.2				62.1		41.6						$25,799	$1,441	$766	$2,207	$19,767	$3,824	$23,592
Lady's Island Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	73 Chowan Creek Bluff	Beaufort	29907	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 322-2240	241	30	8.0	100.0%	48 (19.9%)	111 (46.1%)	62 (25.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.3%)	33.5	435^th of 661 public elementary schools	34.2%		59.3	258^th of 639 public elementary schools	59.6%	177	61.3	41.6	52.8				54.9	12.5	52.7				29.2		$28,727	$2,051	$955	$3,006	$22,219	$3,502	$25,721

Frequently Asked Questions about Whale Branch Elementary

How many students attend Whale Branch Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 409 students attended Whale Branch Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Whale Branch Elementary?

Students at Whale Branch Elementary are 71% African American, 18% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 4% White.

What schools do graduates of Whale Branch Elementary attend?

Students who attend Whale Branch Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Whale Branch Middle
High : Whale Branch Early College High

Is Whale Branch Elementary a good school?

Whale Branch Elementary ranks in the bottom 22.8% of South Carolina elementary schools.

What district is Whale Branch Elementary in?

Beaufort 01

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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.