Minnie Hughes Elementary

Minnie Hughes Elementary is a small school in Yonges Island, SC, serving 174 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Charleston 01 district. While the school has seen some positive developments recently, its overall academic performance has declined significantly, placing it in the bottom 5% of elementary schools statewide.

The most striking finding is the school's high level of funding paired with low academic outcomes. Minnie Hughes spends $42,121 per student—more than double what Angel Oak Elementary spends ($18,949) and nearly four times the spending at Beech Hill Elementary ($11,305). Despite this investment, the school's state ranking dropped 72 positions in a single year, from 543rd to 615th out of 649 schools. Math proficiency is a particular concern, with only 29.6% of 3rd graders and 23.8% of 5th graders meeting standards, compared to district averages above 59%. Science proficiency is also low at 28.6%, well below the state average of 49.1%.

There are some encouraging signs. Chronic absenteeism improved dramatically from 30.1% to 13.3%—now better than both the district and state averages. The school also shows relative strength with its African American students, ranking in the 58th percentile for that subgroup in 2022-2023. Third-grade reading proficiency (48.1%) is the school's strongest subject-area performance. With a low student-teacher ratio of 10.6:1 and a small, intimate learning environment, there is potential for personalized instruction. However, families should be aware that nearby schools like Sand Hill Elementary (83rd percentile) and Beech Hill Elementary (91st percentile) achieve far better results with significantly less funding, suggesting that resources alone are not driving the outcomes at Minnie Hughes.