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Clinton Elementary

Public Grades K-5

539^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 18% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Clinton Elementary in Clinton, SC, serves approximately 422 students in grades K-5 as part of the Laurens 56 school district. The school has experienced a dramatic academic decline over the past few years, falling from a 3-star rating (61st percentile) in 2022-2023 to a 1-star rating (18th percentile) in 2025-2026—a drop of nearly 280 positions in statewide rankings.

The most striking concern is the school's performance in mathematics, particularly in 4th grade, where proficiency rates have plummeted from 56.3% in 2023-2024 to just 20.6% in 2025-2026—far below the district (35.3%) and state (52.3%) averages. This decline is systemic, affecting all subjects, grade levels, and student subgroups. For example, low-income students dropped from the 64th percentile to the 12th percentile, and the school now ranks in the bottom 20% statewide. Interestingly, chronic absenteeism has improved significantly, dropping from 28.1% in 2022-2023 to 15.9% in 2024-2025, which is now better than both the district (20.4%) and state (22.3%) averages. The school spends $14,827 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.5:1, suggesting resources are not the primary issue.

The contrast with Eastside Elementary, located just 1.9 miles away in the same district, is particularly telling. Eastside has improved to the 73rd percentile (4 stars) with ELA proficiency rates of 71.9-76% and math rates of 54.4-64%, while serving similar demographics with comparable spending ($14,193 per student) and class sizes (14.9:1 ratio). This divergence suggests school-specific factors—such as leadership, instructional quality, or curriculum—are driving the decline rather than external challenges like poverty or funding. For parents considering this school, it's important to note that while attendance has improved, academic outcomes have not followed, and the school now performs more similarly to struggling schools in the Laurens 55 district than to its own district's successful Eastside Elementary.

422

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,827

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

800 Chestnut Street
Clinton, SC 29325

(864) 833-0812

District: Laurens 56

Racial breakdown:

African American:

48.1%

White:

34.1%

Hispanic:

8.5%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 36th percentile in 2016 → 18th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (39% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (18th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg50%

South Carolina avg58%

539^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 18%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to bottom 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Laurens 56

44^th of 75Laurens 56 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	19.4	539 of 661	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.9	505 of 639	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	50.8	309 of 643	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	250 of 644	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.1	328 of 625	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.9	317 of 622	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.1	237 of 643	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.7	304 of 624	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.6	283 of 639	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	36.9	399 of 619	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.2	377 of 638	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	45.8	376 of 630	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	51.4	324 of 599	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.7	434 of 594	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	35.3	435 of 597	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	33.3	439 of 589	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	22.2	499 of 580	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	30.7	446 of 577	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.9	370 of 566	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	18.6	496 of 559	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	18.7	491 of 557	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	34.0	403 of 550	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	40.1	360 of 542	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	345 of 384	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.4	339 of 380	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.4	161 of 369	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.8	84 of 394	78.7%	★★★★☆
2022	50.4	180 of 393	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.8	124 of 350	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.6	127 of 421	69.8%	★★★★☆
2018	51.2	185 of 412	55.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	15.1	535 of 599	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.0	428 of 580	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	56.2	240 of 568	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.5	229 of 580	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.2	288 of 573	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.1	258 of 554	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.8	218 of 588	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.2	298 of 570	47.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.2	556 of 634	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.8	485 of 612	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	62.0	218 of 602	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.6	131 of 608	78.5%	★★★★☆
2022	51.3	294 of 600	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.2	324 of 580	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.5	219 of 600	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.1	298 of 588	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.4	450 of 591	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.3	484 of 585	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.1	337 of 571	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.4	256 of 582	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.3	339 of 579	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.2	343 of 561	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.4	255 of 590	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.0	290 of 571	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.4	379 of 463	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.6	334 of 459	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	59.9	193 of 446	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.3	69 of 463	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	52.8	237 of 455	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.3	265 of 439	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.4	195 of 472	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.7	258 of 457	43.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Male (2026)24th percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)18th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)12th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2026)11th percentile-8 vs school

African American (2026)10th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts45%-20 vs state

Mathematics37%-17 vs state

Science31%-21 vs state

★

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Schools Near Clinton 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 (2024)	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
Clinton Elementary	Public	K-5	800 Chestnut Street	Clinton	29325	Laurens County	Laurens 56	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 833-0812	422	29	14.5	100.0%	144 (34.1%)	203 (48.1%)	36 (8.5%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.8%)	19.4	539^th of 661 public elementary schools	18.5%		22.9	505^th of 639 public elementary schools	21.0%	34	41.3	41.2	52.3				50.6	20.6	36.9				30.9		$14,827	$1,825	$1,639	$3,464	$9,867	$1,497	$11,363
Eastside Elementary	Public	K-5	103 Old Colony Road	Clinton	29325	Laurens County	Laurens 56	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 833-0827	462	31	14.9	100.0%	229 (49.6%)	156 (33.8%)	44 (9.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.7%)	72.3	175^th of 661 public elementary schools	73.5%		75.3	157^th of 639 public elementary schools	75.4%	18	76.0	74.3	71.9				64.0	59.5	54.4				59.5		$14,193	$1,965	$1,611	$3,576	$9,277	$1,340	$10,617
Joanna-Woodson Elementary	Public	K-5	510 South Ellis Street	Joanna	29351	Laurens County	Laurens 56	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 697-6480	293	26	11.2	100.0%	179 (61.1%)	62 (21.2%)	26 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.9%)	27	483^rd of 661 public elementary schools	26.9%		41	366^th of 639 public elementary schools	42.7%	117	52.3	40.7	60.0				40.9	22.0	46.0				42.4		$17,683	$2,377	$1,875	$4,252	$11,395	$2,035	$13,431
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	100.0%	121 (28.6%)	93 (22.0%)	186 (44.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.4%)	13.6	600^th of 661 public elementary schools	9.2%		8.5	612^th of 639 public elementary schools	4.2%	12	42.2	40.0	43.4				35.9	28.4	39.1				25.0		$15,791	$1,436	$456	$1,893	$11,084	$2,813	$13,898
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	100.0%	164 (36.7%)	240 (53.7%)	28 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	20.5	533^rd of 661 public elementary schools	19.4%		24.1	496^th of 639 public elementary schools	22.4%	37	58.0	43.7	37.7				43.6	32.4	39.6				26.8		$15,009	$1,351	$459	$1,810	$10,385	$2,814	$13,199
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	100.0%	212 (45.6%)	183 (39.4%)	53 (11.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.2%)	20.2	534^th of 661 public elementary schools	19.2%		17.1	547^th of 639 public elementary schools	14.4%	13	50.0	53.5	54.4				34.4	36.7	26.5				23.9		$15,289	$1,603	$453	$2,056	$10,543	$2,690	$13,233
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	100.0%	186 (73.2%)	39 (15.4%)	10 (3.9%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	63.7	233^rd of 661 public elementary schools	64.8%		66.5	214^th of 639 public elementary schools	66.5%	19	53.8	87.1	78.3				51.9	83.9	65.2				58.1		$17,444	$1,448	$595	$2,043	$12,332	$3,069	$15,401
Whitmire Community School (Elementary)	Public	PK, KG-5	2597 SC Highway 66	Whitmire	29178	Newberry County	Newberry 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 694-2320	250	20	12.6	100.0%	186 (74.4%)	34 (13.6%)	8 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (8.8%)	44.7	359^th of 661 public elementary schools	45.7%		61.7	245^th of 639 public elementary schools	61.7%	114	57.8	61.5	60.0				52.6	38.5	42.2				58.9		$14,884	$1,305	$1,703	$3,007	$8,949	$2,927	$11,876
Reuben Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3605 Spearman Road	Newberry	29108	Newberry County	Newberry 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 321-2664	150	9	16.3	100.0%	70 (46.7%)	43 (28.7%)	25 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (8.0%)	49.8	318^th of 661 public elementary schools	51.9%		64	230^th of 639 public elementary schools	64.0%	88	62.5	69.2					58.3	38.5					50.0		$15,807	$1,324	$1,395	$2,719	$10,637	$2,452	$13,089
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	100.0%	379 (53.0%)	117 (16.4%)	176 (24.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	8 (1.1%)	33 (4.6%)	30.5	455^th of 661 public elementary schools	31.2%		16.6	553^rd of 639 public elementary schools	13.5%	98	58.7	48.0	38.9	37.5	49.3	44.1	62.7	44.0	31.9	23.4	19.7	30.8	46.6	37.5	$14,778	$1,293	$429	$1,722	$10,446	$2,609	$13,055

Frequently Asked Questions about Clinton Elementary

How many students attend Clinton Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 422 students attended Clinton Elementary.

What district is Clinton Elementary in?

Laurens 56

Is Clinton Elementary a good school?

Clinton Elementary ranks in the bottom 18.5% of South Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Clinton Elementary?

Students at Clinton Elementary are 48% African American, 34% White, 9% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 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.