Midway Elementary

Midway Elementary is a small, rural school in Cassatt, SC, serving 338 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Kershaw 01 school district.

Midway Elementary faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 15% of South Carolina elementary schools over the past decade. In the most recent school year, the school ranked 549th out of 649 schools statewide, earning a 1-star rating. The most striking area of concern is mathematics, where proficiency rates are roughly half of both district and state averages. For example, only 27% of 5th graders met math standards, compared to 42.7% in the district and 49.1% statewide. Reading scores are somewhat closer to average, with 5th grade ELA proficiency at 54% versus the state's 63.6%. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism—29.3% of students miss 10% or more of the school year, the highest rate among nearby schools and significantly above the district average of 21%. This rate has climbed steadily over the past three years. Notably, Midway spends more per student ($15,712) than higher-performing peers like Wateree Elementary ($12,351) and Camden Elementary ($11,524), yet achieves far weaker results.

Despite these challenges, there are some encouraging signs. Midway outperforms Jackson School, a similarly high-poverty school just 7 miles away, in most subjects—for instance, 27% of Midway 5th graders passed math versus just 9.3% at Jackson. Additionally, 5th grade reading scores showed a dramatic recovery in the latest year, jumping from 25% to 54% proficiency, suggesting that when students are consistently present, they can approach state averages. The school serves a student body where 100% qualify for free or reduced lunch, a factor that shapes its educational environment. For parents considering this school, the path forward will depend heavily on improving attendance and ensuring that the school's above-average funding translates into more effective math instruction and support for all learners.