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Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle

Q: Is Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle a good school?

Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle ranks 371 st of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

371^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 640 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 42% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle is a public school located in Gray Court, South Carolina, serving grades PK-8 with a student population of 621. The school is part of the Laurens 55 school district, which is ranked 61 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Hickory Tavern consistently outperforms the Laurens 55 district and the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency across all grade levels. However, in mathematics, the school performs better than the district but lags behind the state average, particularly in the upper grades. The school's science proficiency rates are also higher than the district but lower than the state average. Interestingly, male students at Hickory Tavern generally perform better than female students, while white students perform poorly compared to their peers statewide. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds at the school perform better than the district average but still lag behind the state, and disabled students perform relatively well, ranking in the top third of schools in the state.

One significant challenge for Hickory Tavern is its consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 22.5% to 30.5% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Despite the school's higher per-student spending and lower student-teacher ratio compared to the district average, these resources do not appear to be translating into consistently strong academic outcomes, particularly in mathematics. The school should explore strategies to engage families, address barriers to attendance, and evaluate the effectiveness of its resource allocation and instructional practices to ensure that all students receive the support they need to succeed.

623

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,926

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

163 Neely Ferry Road
Gray Court, SC 29645

(864) 575-2126

District: Laurens 55

Students who attend Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle usually attend:

High:

Laurens District 55 High

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.1%

African American:

6.9%

Hispanic:

6.1%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 50th percentile in 2015 → 42nd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (44% vs 51% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school44%

District avg36%

South Carolina avg51%

Elementary school

371^st of 640

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From top 50% (2015) to bottom 42% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

195^th of 320

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 29 pts since 2015

From top 32% (2015) to bottom 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 6Elementary Schools in the Laurens 55

61^st of 75Laurens 55 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	40.7	371 of 640	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.4	417 of 638	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.1	313 of 644	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.2	274 of 625	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.5	388 of 622	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.5	387 of 643	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.9	336 of 624	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	49.8	315 of 639	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	48.5	324 of 619	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.6	322 of 638	49.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	60.7	58 of 189	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.2	79 of 161	50.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	29.0	419 of 581	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.4	438 of 565	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	51.7	280 of 580	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.9	255 of 573	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.2	370 of 554	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.4	414 of 588	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.4	364 of 570	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	46.8	319 of 613	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.2	413 of 599	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.2	241 of 608	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.0	198 of 600	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.3	319 of 580	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.9	335 of 600	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.4	290 of 588	50.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	50.4	288 of 586	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.5	306 of 568	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.0	307 of 582	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.3	286 of 579	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.7	337 of 561	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.3	318 of 590	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.5	287 of 571	49.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	14.8	418 of 460	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.9	403 of 441	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.8	384 of 463	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.5	347 of 455	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.4	399 of 439	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	417 of 472	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.3	369 of 457	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	38.0	195 of 320	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.2	208 of 325	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.4	202 of 325	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.8	174 of 310	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.5	212 of 311	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.6	202 of 315	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.1	169 of 303	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	59.7	116 of 317	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.5	102 of 303	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.2	96 of 301	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	60.7	48 of 195	75.4%	★★★★☆
2018	46.2	98 of 194	49.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	28.9	217 of 295	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.9	181 of 294	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.2	174 of 299	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.0	167 of 290	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.1	188 of 279	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.3	179 of 296	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.2	138 of 281	50.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	46.3	151 of 307	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.8	177 of 307	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.3	159 of 313	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.5	143 of 300	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.7	169 of 288	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.5	165 of 289	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.6	129 of 280	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	46.5	154 of 296	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.6	210 of 294	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.6	211 of 303	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.9	156 of 292	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.7	194 of 279	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.8	202 of 296	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.7	186 of 284	34.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	11.4	240 of 257	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.2	237 of 255	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.1	240 of 260	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.9	205 of 249	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.7	224 of 244	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.0	235 of 258	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.8	202 of 250	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Disabled (2019)69th percentile+29 vs school

Male (2025)51st percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)48th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)28th percentile-14 vs school

White (2025)9th percentile-33 vs school

Middle school

Disabled (2019)75th percentile+40 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)51st percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)48th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)26th percentile-13 vs school

White (2025)7th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts55%-4 vs state

Science44%-5 vs state

Mathematics33%-11 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, April 29, 2019

Love this school! Teachers are very caring and supportive! Close Quote

Schools Near Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SC READY English Language Arts (2025)						SC READY Mathematics (2025)						SC READY Science (2025)		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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	163 Neely Ferry Road	Gray Court	29645	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 575-2126	623	51	12.2		530 (85.1%)	43 (6.9%)	38 (6.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.8%)	40.7	371^st of 640 public elementary schools	42.0%		34.4	417^th of 638 public elementary schools	34.6%	46	63.4	57.6	63.8	50.0	50.8	48.4	43.3	36.4	40.4	28.0	28.6	22.6	45.4	42.7	$14,926	$1,280	$454	$1,734	$10,682	$2,510	$13,192
Ware Shoals Primary	Public	PK, KG-4	15269 Indian Mound Road	Ware Shoals	29692	Laurens County	Greenwood 51	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 861-2261	385	29	13.2		276 (71.7%)	54 (14.0%)	22 (5.7%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.5%)	33.8	429^th of 640 public elementary schools	33.0%		38.7	389^th of 638 public elementary schools	39.0%	40	60.3	60.5					47.6	36.8					26.4
Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	9210 Highway 14	Gray Court	29645	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 876-2131	715	68	10.5		379 (53.0%)	117 (16.4%)	176 (24.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	8 (1.1%)	33 (4.6%)	16.6	554^th of 640 public elementary schools	13.4%		14.2	560^th of 638 public elementary schools	12.2%	6	37.8	47.4	38.3	42.4	47.8	46.5	37.9	34.2	16.1	7.5	20.3	11.3	30.2	39.4	$14,778	$1,293	$429	$1,722	$10,446	$2,609	$13,055
Laurens Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Henry Street	Laurens	29360	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 984-3067	465	45	10.3		212 (45.6%)	183 (39.4%)	53 (11.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.2%)	17.1	548^th of 640 public elementary schools	14.4%		29.7	447^th of 638 public elementary schools	29.9%	101	49.4	45.3	44.8				36.7	26.6	24.1				29.7		$15,289	$1,603	$453	$2,056	$10,543	$2,690	$13,233
E. B. Morse Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Parkview Drive	Laurens	29360	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 984-7777	447	37	12.0		164 (36.7%)	240 (53.7%)	28 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	24.1	497^th of 640 public elementary schools	22.3%		16.9	542^nd of 638 public elementary schools	15.0%	45	52.8	44.1	52.9				44.4	33.9	35.8				20.4		$15,009	$1,351	$459	$1,810	$10,385	$2,814	$13,199
Fork Shoals School	Public	K-5	916 McKelvey Road	Pelzer	29669	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 355-5000	747	49	15.3		522 (69.9%)	78 (10.4%)	89 (11.9%)	10 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.2%)	62.2	240^th of 640 public elementary schools	62.5%		71.8	173^rd of 638 public elementary schools	72.9%	67	60.6	69.0	73.1				48.0	56.1	58.0				52.7		$12,189	$1,138	$572	$1,710	$9,767	$712	$10,479
Ford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	601 Lucas Avenue	Laurens	29360	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 984-3986	423	42	10.0		121 (28.6%)	93 (22.0%)	186 (44.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.4%)	8.5	613^th of 640 public elementary schools	4.2%		9.8	604^th of 638 public elementary schools	5.3%	9	29.9	29.5	41.5				28.4	34.1	18.9				22.7		$15,791	$1,436	$456	$1,893	$11,084	$2,813	$13,898
Fountain Inn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	608 Fairview Street	Fountain Inn	29644	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 355-5100	1,055	59	17.8		466 (44.2%)	356 (33.7%)	146 (13.8%)	7 (0.7%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	75 (7.1%)	74.6	161^st of 640 public elementary schools	74.8%		73.7	162^nd of 638 public elementary schools	74.6%	1	73.8	68.7	66.9				71.3	65.6	53.0				60.7		$11,012	$1,073	$609	$1,682	$8,707	$623	$9,330
Honea Path Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	806 East Greer Street	Honea Path	29654	Anderson County	Anderson 02	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 369-7612	571	41	13.9		403 (70.6%)	90 (15.8%)	22 (3.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (9.5%)	69.9	196^th of 640 public elementary schools	69.4%		74.3	156^th of 638 public elementary schools	75.5%	40	62.9	73.6	69.4				60.2	67.1	57.6				54.0		$14,445	$2,904	$924	$3,828	$9,436	$1,181	$10,617
Waterloo Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10457 Highway 221 South	Waterloo	29384	Laurens County	Laurens 55	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 677-5610	254	30	8.5		186 (73.2%)	39 (15.4%)	10 (3.9%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	66.5	214^th of 640 public elementary schools	66.6%		59.8	253^rd of 638 public elementary schools	60.3%	39	88.6	80.6	41.7				88.6	67.8	20.8				45.2		$17,444	$1,448	$595	$2,043	$12,332	$3,069	$15,401

Frequently Asked Questions about Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle

Is Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle a good school?

Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle ranks 371^st of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle attend?

Students who attend Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle usually go on to attend:

High : Laurens District 55 High

What district is Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle in?

Laurens 55

What is the racial makeup of Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle?

Students at Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle are 85% White, 7% African American, 6% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 623 students attended Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle.

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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.