McCormick Elementary

McCormick Elementary is a small, rural school in Mc Cormick, SC, serving 225 students in grades PK-5 within the McCormick 01 district. While the school has historically ranked in the bottom 20th percentile statewide, recent data reveals a promising upward trend, particularly in reading and for its African American students.

One of the most striking features of McCormick Elementary is its extraordinary investment in students. The school spends $27,076 per student—more than double the national average—and maintains a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.2:1. This means your child is likely to receive a great deal of individual attention. The school is also showing real academic momentum: 5th-grade English Language Arts proficiency jumped from 35.8% to 59.1% in just one year, and 4th-grade reading rose from 37.8% to 55.1%. For African American students, the school now ranks in the 50th percentile statewide, a significant achievement that outpaces the school's overall ranking. There are no other schools within 20 miles, so this is the primary elementary option for families in the area.

However, there are important challenges to be aware of. While reading scores are improving, math proficiency remains a concern, averaging only about 29% across grades 3-5—a stark contrast to the roughly 50% average in ELA. The school also faces high chronic absenteeism (22.4%) and serves a student body where 100% qualify for free/reduced lunch, which can impact learning. Interestingly, the school's test scores mirror the district averages exactly, indicating that these struggles are systemic across the McCormick 01 district rather than isolated to this campus. Despite the resource paradox—high spending with still-developing outcomes—the rapid improvement in reading and subgroup performance suggests the school is on a positive trajectory worth watching.