Summary
College Park Elementary is a PK-5 school in Ladson, SC, serving about 750 students within the Berkeley 01 district, where all students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
College Park Elementary currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 16th percentile statewide, a significant decline from its 2-star rating and 41st percentile position a decade ago. Academic proficiency lags well behind district and state averages—for example, only 35.2% of 3rd graders are proficient in ELA compared to 61.4% districtwide, and 4th grade math proficiency sits at just 28.2% versus 50.5% for the district. When compared to nearby schools, the gap is stark: Boulder Bluff Elementary (3.7 miles away) achieves 61.8% proficiency in 3rd grade ELA, and Westview Elementary reaches 61.5%—roughly 26 points higher than College Park. Interestingly, the school spends $13,549 per student, more than Carolyn Lewis School ($12,358) and Sangaree Intermediate ($12,355), yet those schools achieve far better outcomes, suggesting that funding and class size (14.7:1) are not the primary barriers. Chronic absenteeism is also elevated at 24.4%, compared to 17.5% at both Westview and Sangaree Intermediate.
There are some bright spots worth noting. The school shows strong grade progression in ELA, with proficiency improving from 35.2% in 3rd grade to 51.3% by 5th grade, suggesting effective interventions in upper grades. Additionally, African American students at College Park rank in the 58th percentile statewide—well above the school's overall ranking—demonstrating that successful instructional strategies exist within the building. However, significant concerns remain: disabled students rank in the 0th percentile statewide, and math performance has shown no consistent improvement over four years. For parents considering this school, it's important to know that while resources are being invested and some subgroups are thriving, the school faces serious challenges in math, special education services, and attendance that will require deliberate, sustained effort to overcome.
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