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Thomas E. Kerns Elementary

Q: Is Thomas E. Kerns Elementary a good school?

Thomas E. Kerns Elementary ranks 449 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

449^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 32% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Thomas E. Kerns Elementary is a PK-5 public school in Greenville, SC, serving 522 students within the highly regarded Greenville 01 school district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Kerns Elementary has historically faced academic challenges, but the most recent 2025-2026 school year shows a promising turnaround. The school jumped from the 18th to the 32nd percentile statewide—its highest ranking in five years. This improvement is especially visible in 3rd grade, where ELA proficiency rose from 45.4% to 65.4% and math from 37.4% to 64.1%. However, a concerning "grade-level cliff" emerges as students advance: 4th grade proficiency drops to 43.1% in ELA and just 25.5% in math. This pattern is more pronounced at Kerns than at nearby schools like Augusta Circle Elementary, which posts 96%+ proficiency rates in most subjects, or Sterling School at 84.4% in 4th grade math. The school spends significantly more per student ($15,816) than these higher-performing neighbors, and maintains a favorable 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio, suggesting the district is investing heavily in interventions.

There are bright spots worth noting. African American students at Kerns rank in the 55th percentile statewide—a strong performance relative to other schools serving similar populations—and English Language Learners perform in the 46th percentile, both outpacing the school's overall ranking. Chronic absenteeism has also improved dramatically, dropping from 35.8% in 2021-2022 to 23.0% in 2024-2025, though it remains above the state average. The school's biggest challenge lies with its Disabled Students subgroup, which ranks in the bottom 10th percentile. While Kerns still trails nearby schools like Sara Collins Elementary and Blythe Academy academically, the recent gains suggest that the school's increased resources and improved attendance may be starting to yield results, particularly in the early grades.

522

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,744

Per pupil spending ?

82.2%

Directly certified for free meals (2023-24) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2023-24)

92%

Students (all grades) with required immunizations (2025-26)

6650 Frontage Road at White Horse Road
Greenville, SC 29605

(864) 355-1300

District: Greenville 01

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

46.6%

African American:

40.4%

White:

7.9%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Thomas E. Kerns Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 25th percentile in 2016 → 32nd in 2026

Strengths

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

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (45% vs 58% meeting standards)

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

!Science scores 17 pts below the South Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg68%

South Carolina avg58%

449^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 32%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

48^th of 51Elementary Schools in the Greenville 01

11^th of 75Greenville 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	30.9	449 of 661	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	20.8	525 of 639	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.8	538 of 643	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.5	519 of 644	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.9	455 of 625	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.3	424 of 622	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.9	488 of 643	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.6	508 of 624	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.8	452 of 639	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.0	466 of 619	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.7	501 of 638	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.3	531 of 630	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	42.3	375 of 599	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.3	321 of 594	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	48.8	345 of 597	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.8	346 of 589	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	28.4	460 of 580	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	21.8	499 of 577	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	13.2	528 of 566	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.3	176 of 384	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.4	243 of 380	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.3	175 of 369	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.8	145 of 394	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.9	141 of 393	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.5	79 of 350	77.4%	★★★★☆
2019	55.6	169 of 421	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.4	261 of 412	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.7	138 of 156	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.3	130 of 147	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	133 of 151	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.5	146 of 189	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	143 of 161	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.4	58 of 106	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.4	59 of 104	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.2	52 of 79	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.8	49 of 72	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.7	56 of 84	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	62.3	34 of 84	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.8	68 of 104	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.6	65 of 82	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.8	431 of 599	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.5	503 of 580	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.1	505 of 568	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	464 of 580	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.2	404 of 573	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	396 of 554	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.2	479 of 588	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.4	485 of 570	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.0	86 of 159	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.3	87 of 156	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.6	70 of 114	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.4	80 of 115	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.4	68 of 115	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	67.4	25 of 86	70.9%	★★★★☆
2019	43.0	70 of 116	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.8	80 of 104	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	44.7	363 of 634	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.7	452 of 612	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.4	464 of 602	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.4	435 of 608	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.6	357 of 600	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.5	295 of 580	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.1	400 of 600	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.1	438 of 588	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.1	417 of 591	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.6	454 of 585	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.6	458 of 571	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.7	480 of 582	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.2	457 of 579	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.9	400 of 561	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.0	427 of 590	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.1	465 of 571	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	25.5	356 of 457	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)54th percentile+22 vs school

Hispanic (2026)46th percentile+14 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)45th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)29th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)28th percentile-4 vs school

White (2018)22nd percentile+4 vs school

Disabled (2026)12th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts54%-11 vs state

Mathematics40%-13 vs state

Science34%-17 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, March 17, 2016

The only thing that goes on in the classroom is behavior modification for terrible students. There is no education, time, or attention available for students without horrible problems. Close Quote

Schools Near Thomas E. Kerns Elementary

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Ranking:

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Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)						SC READY Mathematics (2026)						SC READY Science (2026)		EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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 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	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	Vaccination: Students (all grades) with required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	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
Thomas E. Kerns Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6650 Frontage Road at White Horse Road	Greenville	29605	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 355-1300	522	35	14.7	—	41 (7.9%)	211 (40.4%)	243 (46.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.8%)	20 (3.8%)	30.9	449^th of 661 public elementary schools	32.1%		20.8	525^th of 639 public elementary schools	17.8%	76	65.4	43.1	55.5				64.1	25.5	36.1				34.3			92%		$14,744	$1,975	$808	$2,783	$11,121	$840	$11,961
Blythe Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	100 Blythe Drive	Greenville	29605	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	Yes	No	No	(864) 355-4400	866	55	15.7	60.9%	297 (34.3%)	232 (26.8%)	278 (32.1%)	16 (1.8%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (4.4%)	76	148^th of 661 public elementary schools	77.6%		78.4	131^st of 639 public elementary schools	79.5%	17	71.1	76.8	69.1				67.6	59.7	63.9				69.0			94%		$12,387	$805	$446	$1,252	$10,333	$802	$11,135
Augusta Circle Elementary	Public	K-5	100 Winyah Street	Greenville	29605	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 355-1200	602	35	17.1	12.3%	540 (89.7%)	30 (5.0%)	17 (2.8%)	6 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.3%)	98.6	2^nd of 661 public elementary schools	99.7%		98.8	2^nd of 639 public elementary schools	99.7%		96.3	100.0	93.4				90.6	96.4	92.4				98.8			96%		$12,059	$495	$386	$881	$10,388	$791	$11,178
Grove Elementary	Public	K-5	1220 Old Grove Road	Piedmont	29673	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 355-5900	622	46	13.5	—	71 (11.4%)	192 (30.9%)	333 (53.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.7%)	36.7	419^th of 661 public elementary schools	36.6%		25.7	482^nd of 639 public elementary schools	24.6%	63	56.7	54.3	53.9				57.5	32.9	42.2				45.7			93%		$14,206	$2,034	$745	$2,779	$10,666	$761	$11,427
Welcome Elementary	Public	K-5	36 East Welcome Road	Greenville	29611	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 355-3900	642	51	12.5	—	74 (11.5%)	168 (26.2%)	368 (57.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (4.7%)	42.2	384^th of 661 public elementary schools	41.9%		34.6	417^th of 639 public elementary schools	34.7%	33	53.4	65.0	57.1				47.6	42.2	46.0				53.6			96%		$14,835	$2,020	$684	$2,704	$11,321	$810	$12,131
Sara Collins Elementary	Public	K-5	1200 Parkins Mill Road	Greenville	29607	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 355-3200	917	59	15.4	50.3%	512 (55.8%)	232 (25.3%)	120 (13.1%)	9 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (4.6%)	76.1	147^th of 661 public elementary schools	77.8%		73.6	174^th of 639 public elementary schools	72.8%	27	67.2	74.8	81.6				61.6	59.5	75.8				64.9			96%		$12,969	$582	$464	$1,045	$11,140	$784	$11,924
Hollis Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Goodrich Street	Greenville	29611	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 355-4800	566	46	12.3	—	36 (6.4%)	195 (34.5%)	306 (54.1%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (4.2%)	22.7	520^th of 661 public elementary schools	21.3%		26.3	474^th of 639 public elementary schools	25.8%	46	49.4	50.6	38.8				36.6	41.0	25.9				49.4			95%		$15,655	$2,363	$746	$3,109	$11,772	$774	$12,546
LEAD Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	804 Mauldin Rd.	Greenville	29607	Greenville County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(864) 916-1459	403	31	13.1	78.0%	53 (13.2%)	242 (60.0%)	82 (20.3%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	19 (4.7%)	26.5	486^th of 661 public elementary schools	26.5%		30.5	446^th of 639 public elementary schools	30.2%	40	56.5	60.4	45.4	47.7	65.9	60.6	32.6	31.2	22.7	35.8	34.2	39.4	39.6	35.7		91%		$10,988	$395	$559	$954	$7,624	$2,410	$10,034
Sterling School	Public	PK, KG-8	99 John McCarroll Way	Greenville	29607	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 355-4480	749	51	14.7	44.2%	398 (53.1%)	166 (22.2%)	48 (6.4%)	89 (11.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.1%)	97.6	4^th of 661 public elementary schools	99.4%		98	4^th of 639 public elementary schools	99.4%		91.9	89.4	91.0	98.9	100.0	100.0	87.4	84.4	86.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	86.9	100.0	100.0	93%		$13,661	$719	$436	$1,155	$11,584	$922	$12,505
A.J. Whittenberg Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	420 Westfield Street	Greenville	29601	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 452-0500	491	31	15.9	65.6%	150 (30.5%)	232 (47.3%)	88 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.3%)	71.8	180^th of 661 public elementary schools	72.8%		76.2	148^th of 639 public elementary schools	76.8%	32	71.2	66.3	75.8				68.9	55.0	60.6				63.8			93%		$13,923	$772	$556	$1,328	$11,743	$852	$12,595

Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas E. Kerns Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Thomas E. Kerns Elementary?

Students at Thomas E. Kerns Elementary are 47% Hispanic, 40% African American, 8% White, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Thomas E. Kerns Elementary in?

Greenville 01

How many students attend Thomas E. Kerns Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 522 students attended Thomas E. Kerns Elementary.

Is Thomas E. Kerns Elementary a good school?

Thomas E. Kerns Elementary ranks 449^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Thomas E. Kerns Elementary!

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 20, 2026

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

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.