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Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary

Q: Is Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary a good school?

Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary ranks 78 th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

78^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 649 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary is a public elementary school in Charleston, SC, serving 618 students in grades PK-5 within the Charleston 01 school district. This arts-integrated school has a long history of strong academics, consistently earning 4 or 5 stars from SchoolDigger over the past decade, and it continues to significantly outperform both district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade level.

What truly sets Ashley River apart is its remarkable consistency and student engagement. In the 2025-2026 school year, ELA proficiency ranged from 75% to 81.5% across grades 3-5, while math proficiency held steady between 72.8% and 74%—numbers that are 12-25 percentage points higher than state averages. The school also excels in 4th-grade science, with a 70.8% proficiency rate compared to the state's 51.6%. Perhaps most impressive is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of just 9.5%, less than half the district rate (20.5%) and far below nearby schools like Stono Park Elementary (27.5%) and Springfield Elementary (24.0%). This suggests a highly engaged student body and strong family-school connections.

While Ashley River remains a top 15% school in the state, it has slipped from its former elite status—ranking 7th in 2017-2018 but now sitting at 78th. It also faces stiff competition from nearby Orange Grove Charter School (ranked 14th) and Montessori Community School (ranked 48th), both of which outperform it in several areas. Interestingly, Ashley River achieves its strong results with moderate funding ($20,446 per student), while lower-performing Stono Park Elementary spends significantly more ($28,562). For families seeking a creative, arts-focused environment with strong academics and high student engagement, Ashley River offers a unique and compelling option.

618

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,446

Per pupil spending ?

35%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1871 Wallace School Road
Charleston, SC 29407

(843) 763-1555

District: Charleston 01

Students who attend Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	C. E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Art
High:	West Ashley High

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.7%

African American:

22.0%

Two or more races:

7.6%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 98th percentile in 2016 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (75% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of South Carolina elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg65%

South Carolina avg58%

78^th of 649

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 2% (2016) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

15^th of 45Elementary Schools in the Charleston 01

21^st of 75Charleston 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	86.5	78 of 649	88.0%	★★★★☆
2025	85.1	84 of 640	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	90.8	45 of 638	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	93.7	31 of 644	95.2%	★★★★★
2022	94.6	27 of 625	95.7%	★★★★★
2021	97.2	9 of 622	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	95.3	13 of 643	98.0%	★★★★★
2018	96.7	7 of 624	98.9%	★★★★★
2017	95.2	14 of 639	97.8%	★★★★★
2016	95.1	11 of 619	98.2%	★★★★★
2015	92.9	22 of 638	96.6%	★★★★★
2014	92.9	2 of 630	99.7%	★★★★★
2013	91.2	11 of 599	98.2%	★★★★★
2012	90.7	14 of 594	97.6%	★★★★★
2011	92.6	10 of 597	98.3%	★★★★★
2010	91.5	15 of 589	97.5%	★★★★★
2009	89.7	20 of 580	96.6%	★★★★★
2008	89.7	16 of 577	97.2%	★★★★★
2007	88.2	26 of 566	95.4%	★★★★★
2006	90.8	15 of 559	97.3%	★★★★★
2005	88.2	24 of 557	95.7%	★★★★★
2004	87.2	40 of 550	92.7%	★★★★★
2003	82.0	80 of 542	85.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.7	63 of 379	83.4%	★★★★☆
2025	90.2	16 of 381	95.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	85.8	59 of 589	90.0%	★★★★★
2025	83.9	70 of 581	88.0%	★★★★☆
2024	92.3	28 of 565	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	92.2	31 of 580	94.7%	★★★★★
2022	93.4	28 of 573	95.1%	★★★★★
2021	95.7	17 of 554	96.9%	★★★★★
2019	92.3	23 of 588	96.1%	★★★★★
2018	95.5	8 of 570	98.6%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.7	40 of 91	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.4	33 of 82	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.0	28 of 105	73.3%	★★★★☆
2022	73.1	17 of 109	84.4%	★★★★☆
2021	71.0	41 of 147	72.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	67.1	182 of 624	70.8%	★★★★☆
2025	50.6	296 of 613	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.1	170 of 599	71.6%	★★★★☆
2023	81.9	78 of 608	87.2%	★★★★☆
2021	96.2	6 of 580	99.0%	★★★★★
2019	92.4	20 of 600	96.7%	★★★★★
2018	96.7	3 of 588	99.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.2	86 of 583	85.2%	★★★★☆
2025	82.6	83 of 586	85.8%	★★★★☆
2024	83.5	80 of 568	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	91.8	35 of 582	94.0%	★★★★★
2022	93.4	30 of 579	94.8%	★★★★★
2021	97.3	6 of 561	98.9%	★★★★★
2019	96.6	5 of 590	99.2%	★★★★★
2018	96.6	6 of 571	98.9%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	82.6	59 of 454	87.0%	★★★★☆
2025	80.0	71 of 460	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	81.6	56 of 441	87.3%	★★★★☆
2023	85.9	45 of 463	90.3%	★★★★★
2022	86.3	42 of 455	90.8%	★★★★★
2021	92.2	23 of 439	94.8%	★★★★★
2019	90.8	20 of 472	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	90.8	22 of 457	95.2%	★★★★★

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)

Female (2026)90th percentile~ school

White (2026)87th percentile~ school

Male (2026)85th percentile-3 vs school

African American (2026)83rd percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)71st percentile-17 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)56th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts78%+14 vs state

Mathematics74%+20 vs state

Science71%+19 vs state

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Schools Near Ashley River Creative Arts 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	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
Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1871 Wallace School Road	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 763-1555	618	44	13.9		375 (60.7%)	136 (22.0%)	37 (6.0%)	23 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.6%)	86.5	78^th of 649 public elementary schools	88.0%		85.1	84^th of 640 public elementary schools	86.9%	6	78.3	75.0	81.5				72.8	74.0	73.9				70.8		$20,446	$3,333	$1,338	$4,671	$12,855	$2,919	$15,775
Carolina Voyager Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	721 Wappoo Road	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	Yes	No	No	No	(843) 203-3891	402	30	13.6		287 (71.4%)	51 (12.7%)	21 (5.2%)	12 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.7%)	81.4	116^th of 649 public elementary schools	82.1%		74.1	167^th of 640 public elementary schools	73.9%	51	77.7	80.0	73.9	69.6	66.0	68.3	53.4	75.6	69.6	65.2	50.0	63.4	62.3	71.8
Oakland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	505-A Arlington Drive	Charleston	29414	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 763-1510	556	40	13.9		231 (41.5%)	205 (36.9%)	42 (7.6%)	23 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	52 (9.4%)	82	109^th of 649 public elementary schools	83.2%		68.1	206^th of 640 public elementary schools	67.8%	97	74.1	79.1	76.4				74.2	63.2	64.0				67.8		$23,557	$3,753	$1,441	$5,194	$14,671	$3,692	$18,363
Stono Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	314 Huntley Drive	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 763-1507	337	25	13.4		56 (16.6%)	232 (68.8%)	23 (6.8%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.2%)	22.2	514^th of 649 public elementary schools	20.8%		16.8	551^st of 640 public elementary schools	13.9%	37	45.4	43.9	50.0				45.5	31.7	41.2				36.6		$28,562	$6,379	$1,956	$8,335	$15,932	$4,295	$20,227
Orange Grove Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1225 Orange Branch Road	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	Yes	No	No	No	(843) 763-1520	1,170	75	15.5		948 (81.0%)	95 (8.1%)	49 (4.2%)	24 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	53 (4.5%)	96.4	14^th of 649 public elementary schools	97.8%		96.6	11^th of 640 public elementary schools	98.3%	3	86.5	94.0	91.1	87.3	80.5	94.0	86.4	85.2	88.9	82.6	79.4	86.2	74.0	81.0	$14,448	$1,546	$1,080	$2,625	$10,296	$1,527	$11,823
Movement School Bridge View	Public, Charter	K-1	4275 Bridge View Drive	North Charleston	29405	Charleston County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(980) 272-4327	79	5	15.8		6 (7.6%)	60 (75.9%)	12 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.3%)								(n/a)
St. Andrew's School of Math and Science	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	30 Chadwick Drive	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 763-1503	769	52	14.8		450 (58.5%)	166 (21.6%)	82 (10.7%)	15 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (7.0%)	82.8	102^nd of 649 public elementary schools	84.3%		86.3	75^th of 640 public elementary schools	88.3%	27	81.6	76.5	66.1				83.2	67.2	61.7				73.1		$18,113	$3,633	$1,283	$4,916	$10,805	$2,392	$13,197
Montessori Community School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	2122 Wood Avenue	Charleston	29414	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 769-0346	280	17	16.8		225 (80.4%)	18 (6.4%)	7 (2.5%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	22 (7.9%)	90.4	48^th of 649 public elementary schools	92.6%		94.6	24^th of 640 public elementary schools	96.3%	24	80.0	86.7	92.3	95.8	95.7	96.1	64.0	66.7	80.8	91.7	95.6	77.0	76.7		$23,806	$3,021	$1,376	$4,397	$16,191	$3,219	$19,409
Springfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2130 Pinehurst Avenue	Charleston	29414	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 763-1538	679	49	13.8		230 (33.9%)	246 (36.2%)	125 (18.4%)	23 (3.4%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	49 (7.2%)	51.5	300^th of 649 public elementary schools	53.8%		50.2	308^th of 640 public elementary schools	51.9%	8	53.8	54.0	68.1				58.1	47.0	57.5				52.0		$20,743	$4,519	$1,601	$6,121	$11,869	$2,754	$14,623
Charleston Development Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	233 Line Street	Charleston	29403	Charleston County	Charleston 01	Yes	No	No	Yes	(843) 722-2689	151	15	10.2		0 (0.0%)	151 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35.2	423^rd of 649 public elementary schools	34.8%					(n/a)				57.7		65.0				15.3		15.0		42.3

Frequently Asked Questions about Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary

Is Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary a good school?

Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary ranks 78^th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 618 students attended Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : C. E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Art
High : West Ashley High

What is the racial makeup of Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary?

Students at Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary are 61% White, 22% African American, 8% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 4% Asian.

What district is Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary in?

Charleston 01

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresNewAug 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.