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Joseph R. Pye Elementary

Q: Is Joseph R. Pye Elementary a good school?

Joseph R. Pye Elementary ranks 121 st of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

121^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Joseph R. Pye Elementary in Ladson, SC, is a PK-5 school within the Dorchester 02 district, serving 775 students and earning a consistent 4-star state rating with a rising state ranking that now places it in the 82nd percentile.

What truly sets Joseph R. Pye apart is its ability to help students excel across the board. In English Language Arts and math, proficiency rates are well above both district and state averages—for example, 3rd-grade math proficiency hits 79.8% compared to the state average of 59.2%. The school is particularly effective with English Language Learners, ranking in the 93rd percentile statewide (7th out of 103 schools), and also performs strongly with African American and Hispanic students, ranking in the 91st and 89th percentiles respectively. This "all boats rise" effect extends to students from low-income backgrounds, who score in the 75th percentile. The school also keeps chronic absenteeism remarkably low at 15.8%, far better than the district's 24.0% and the state's 22.3%, which signals a positive, engaging school culture. All of this is achieved with per-student spending of $13,007—not the highest in the area—suggesting efficient use of resources.

When you compare Joseph R. Pye to nearby schools, the differences are striking. While Fort Dorchester Elementary in the same district also performs well, schools in the neighboring Charleston 01 district—like Ladson Elementary, A.C. Corcoran Elementary, and Pepperhill Elementary—rank in the bottom 10% of the state despite spending more per student. This suggests district leadership and instructional strategies matter more than raw funding. One area to watch: math proficiency dips from 79.8% in 3rd grade to 59.8% in 4th grade, and the school's Gifted and Talented program ranks in the 40th percentile, indicating that while the school excels at lifting students to proficiency, it may not yet be stretching its highest achievers to the same degree.

775

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,417

Per pupil spending ?

47.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2023-24) ?

9701 Patriot Boulevard
Ladson, SC 29456

(843) 695-2979

District: Dorchester 02

Students who attend Joseph R. Pye Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Oakbrook Middle
	Rollings Middle School of the Arts
High:	Fort Dorchester High

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.2%

African American:

28.6%

Hispanic:

14.3%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Joseph R. Pye Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 75th percentile in 2016 → 82nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (70% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of South Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school70%

District avg61%

South Carolina avg58%

121^st of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to top 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Dorchester 02

20^th of 75Dorchester 02 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	80.5	121 of 661	81.7%	★★★★☆
2025	75.9	155 of 639	75.7%	★★★★☆
2024	84.3	93 of 643	85.5%	★★★★☆
2023	67.4	204 of 644	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.6	238 of 625	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.7	160 of 622	74.3%	★★★★☆
2019	65.4	211 of 643	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.1	169 of 624	72.9%	★★★★☆
2017	67.9	186 of 639	70.9%	★★★★☆
2016	72.2	152 of 619	75.4%	★★★★☆
2015	62.5	202 of 638	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	63.6	231 of 630	63.3%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.4	36 of 384	90.6%	★★★★★
2025	76.1	63 of 380	83.4%	★★★★☆
2024	85.0	26 of 369	93.0%	★★★★★
2023	74.4	66 of 394	83.2%	★★★★☆
2022	56.7	145 of 393	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	84.0	26 of 350	92.6%	★★★★★
2019	77.8	58 of 421	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	78.7	50 of 412	87.9%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.7	50 of 156	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.5	38 of 143	73.4%	★★★★☆
2019	68.1	45 of 189	76.2%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.1	7 of 106	93.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.1	196 of 599	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.7	178 of 580	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	77.3	112 of 568	80.3%	★★★★☆
2023	66.0	194 of 580	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.1	227 of 573	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.6	140 of 554	74.7%	★★★★☆
2019	63.1	210 of 588	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.7	163 of 570	71.4%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.7	168 of 196	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	67.0	43 of 105	59.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	82.5	18 of 159	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	66.4	51 of 156	67.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	159 of 634	74.9%	★★★★☆
2025	64.5	202 of 612	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	83.3	71 of 602	88.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.0	160 of 608	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	48.7	308 of 600	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.9	209 of 580	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.3	228 of 600	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.2	149 of 588	74.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.8	74 of 591	87.5%	★★★★☆
2025	77.0	122 of 585	79.1%	★★★★☆
2024	86.9	61 of 571	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	64.9	197 of 582	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.4	244 of 579	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.4	174 of 561	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.6	217 of 590	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.4	174 of 571	69.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.5	95 of 463	79.5%	★★★★☆
2025	71.3	125 of 459	72.8%	★★★★☆
2024	79.6	69 of 446	84.5%	★★★★☆
2023	57.7	206 of 463	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.2	241 of 455	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	58.4	185 of 439	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.3	266 of 472	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.1	225 of 457	50.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)93rd percentile+12 vs school

African American (2026)91st percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2026)89th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)87th percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)79th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2026)68th percentile-14 vs school

Female (2026)67th percentile-14 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)14th percentile-67 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts77%+12 vs state

Mathematics67%+14 vs state

Science63%+11 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, September 6, 2018

Stool many issues with the lack of faculty wanting to handle "out of control students" which really impacts good hard working learning children. We have both witnessed it first hand, if the pare ts don't wa t to discipline their children to enable to learn then faculty please give those kids warnings, conference with parents and so on. We as well pay taxes and will not tolerate this behavior by the classmates nor the school letting a few "rotten eggs" disrupt the majorities education, Thank you! Close Quote

Schools Near Joseph R. Pye 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 (2026)
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/reduced lunch (2023-24)	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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Science 4th 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
Joseph R. Pye Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9701 Patriot Boulevard	Ladson	29456	Berkeley County	Dorchester 02	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 695-2979	775	55	14.0	47.2%	319 (41.2%)	222 (28.6%)	111 (14.3%)	31 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	92 (11.9%)	80.5	121^st of 661 public elementary schools	81.7%		75.9	155^th of 639 public elementary schools	75.7%	34	75.8	74.4	79.3	79.8	59.8	65.4	62.8	$13,417	$664	$766	$1,430	$10,165	$1,823	$11,987
Oakbrook Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	306 Old Fort Drive	Ladson	29456	Berkeley County	Dorchester 02	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 821-1165	649	43	15.0	77.4%	199 (30.7%)	291 (44.8%)	90 (13.9%)	12 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (8.3%)	33.8	434^th of 661 public elementary schools	34.3%		39.6	383^rd of 639 public elementary schools	40.1%	51	50.6	65.7	57.2	39.6	36.4	39.6	43.4	$13,722	$717	$825	$1,542	$10,581	$1,598	$12,180
Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8600 William Moultrie Drive	North Charleston	29420	Dorchester County	Dorchester 02	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 760-9820	622	54	11.6	—	114 (18.3%)	271 (43.6%)	154 (24.8%)	22 (3.5%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	57 (9.2%)	42.8	378^th of 661 public elementary schools	42.8%		37.7	393^rd of 639 public elementary schools	38.5%	15	70.4	63.3	45.9	68.4	41.2	32.3	38.8	$15,910	$897	$769	$1,666	$12,565	$1,678	$14,244
Fort Dorchester Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5201 Old Glory Lane	Summerville	29485	Dorchester County	Dorchester 02	No	No	No	No	(843) 832-5550	801	57	13.9	50.6%	330 (41.2%)	217 (27.1%)	131 (16.4%)	52 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	69 (8.6%)	81.8	113^th of 661 public elementary schools	82.9%		74.3	164^th of 639 public elementary schools	74.3%	51	76.3	83.2	75.4	75.5	67.2	57.9	63.2	$14,640	$597	$747	$1,344	$11,886	$1,410	$13,296
Ladson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3321 Ladson Road	Ladson	29456	Berkeley County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 764-2225	907	63	14.3	—	139 (15.3%)	427 (47.1%)	283 (31.2%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (5.8%)	11.2	616^th of 661 public elementary schools	6.8%		8.1	615^th of 639 public elementary schools	3.8%	1	40.8	44.0	36.6	20.8	29.8	23.5	35.1	$17,356	$1,543	$766	$2,309	$12,012	$3,035	$15,047
Pepperhill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3300 Creola Road	North Charleston	29420	Dorchester County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 767-5905	453	34	13.4	—	25 (5.5%)	214 (47.2%)	185 (40.8%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.7%)	7.8	644^th of 661 public elementary schools	2.6%		6	628^th of 639 public elementary schools	1.7%	16	34.5	37.4	30.1	39.7	28.0	18.8	22.7	$21,168	$1,757	$707	$2,464	$13,879	$4,825	$18,704
Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Chandler Creek Road	Summerville	29485	Dorchester County	Dorchester 02	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 695-5205	791	54	14.7	65.8%	332 (42.0%)	242 (30.6%)	110 (13.9%)	7 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	97 (12.3%)	50.4	315^th of 661 public elementary schools	52.3%		62.1	241^st of 639 public elementary schools	62.3%	74	67.7	62.4	62.3	62.8	41.4	50.0	42.1	$13,140	$523	$770	$1,293	$10,279	$1,568	$11,847
Eagle Nest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8640 River Oaks Drive	North Charleston	29420	Dorchester County	Dorchester 02	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 695-2460	653	45	14.4	70.0%	135 (20.7%)	213 (32.6%)	204 (31.2%)	19 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.6%)	77 (11.8%)	17.2	564^th of 661 public elementary schools	14.7%		26.1	478^th of 639 public elementary schools	25.2%	86	53.7	50.0	45.4	43.0	26.1	22.6	27.1	$13,921	$486	$801	$1,287	$10,884	$1,750	$12,634
A. C. Corcoran Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8585 Vistavia Road	North Charleston	29406	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 764-2218	743	49	15.0	—	58 (7.8%)	361 (48.6%)	251 (33.8%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	65 (8.7%)	6.9	647^th of 661 public elementary schools	2.1%		5.1	632^nd of 639 public elementary schools	1.1%	15	39.6	24.1	31.0	32.1	25.0	24.0	22.1	$17,701	$1,460	$748	$2,207	$12,530	$2,964	$15,494
Pinehurst Elementary	Public	1-5	7753 Northside Drive	North Charleston	29420	Dorchester County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 824-8728	758	66	11.4	—	30 (4.0%)	111 (14.6%)	599 (79.0%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	10 (1.3%)	10.1	632^nd of 661 public elementary schools	4.4%		11.3	589^th of 639 public elementary schools	7.8%	43	27.9	28.6	38.7	40.4	29.3	29.2	24.6	$17,956	$1,744	$769	$2,513	$12,587	$2,856	$15,443

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph R. Pye Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Joseph R. Pye Elementary?

Students at Joseph R. Pye Elementary are 41% White, 29% African American, 14% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Joseph R. Pye Elementary attend?

Students who attend Joseph R. Pye Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Oakbrook Middle
Middle : Rollings Middle School of the Arts
High : Fort Dorchester High

How many students attend Joseph R. Pye Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 775 students attended Joseph R. Pye Elementary.

Is Joseph R. Pye Elementary a good school?

Joseph R. Pye Elementary ranks 121^st of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Joseph R. Pye Elementary in?

Dorchester 02

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 10, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 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.