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Ambler Elementary

Q: Is Ambler Elementary a good school?

Ambler Elementary ranks 73 rd of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

73^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 649 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Ambler Elementary is a small, rural school in Pickens, South Carolina, serving 316 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Pickens 01 school district. This school is a standout performer, consistently ranking in the top 15% of elementary schools in the state over the past decade, and currently sits at the 89th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating.

What truly sets Ambler apart is its remarkable success with students from low socio-economic backgrounds. With nearly two-thirds of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the school ranks in the top 3% statewide for this subgroup—an extraordinary achievement that speaks to its effectiveness at closing achievement gaps. Academically, Ambler excels particularly in math and science. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency (77.3%) is 25 points above the state average, and 4th-grade science proficiency (77.2%) is more than 25 points higher than the state average. The school also maintains a favorable 14:1 student-teacher ratio and has dramatically improved chronic absenteeism, dropping from 24.5% in 2022-2023 to 13.6% in 2024-2025—nearly half the district average.

When compared to nearby schools, Ambler is a clear academic leader. It outperforms every other elementary school in the Pickens 01 district, ranking 73rd statewide versus the next closest school, Forest Acres Elementary, at 186th. Even Slater Marietta Elementary in the higher-ranked Greenville 01 district trails significantly in key metrics. Perhaps most telling is the comparison to Lakes and Bridges Charter School, which spends more per student ($16,547 vs. $12,835) yet ranks in the bottom 10% of the state—Ambler's 3rd-grade ELA proficiency (77.1%) is nearly four times higher. This demonstrates that Ambler achieves exceptional results through effective instruction and resource efficiency, not just funding.

316

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,835

Per pupil spending ?

62.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

838 Ambler School Road
Pickens, SC 29671

(864) 397-1200

District: Pickens 01

Students who attend Ambler Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Pickens Middle
High:	Pickens High

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.7%

Hispanic:

4.7%

African American:

3.8%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Ambler Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 93rd percentile in 2014 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (76% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of South Carolina elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Pickens 01

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school76%

District avg61%

South Carolina avg58%

73^rd of 649

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

From top 15% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 13Elementary Schools in the Pickens 01

17^th of 75Pickens 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	87.1	73 of 649	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	88.9	54 of 640	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	85.4	81 of 638	87.3%	★★★★☆
2023	76.3	140 of 644	78.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.5	152 of 625	75.7%	★★★★☆
2021	75.5	143 of 622	77.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.7	79 of 643	87.7%	★★★★☆
2016	82.4	90 of 619	85.5%	★★★★☆
2015	68.9	145 of 638	77.3%	★★★★☆
2014	86.0	43 of 630	93.2%	★★★★★
2013	87.1	39 of 599	93.5%	★★★★★
2012	85.8	41 of 594	93.1%	★★★★★
2011	85.1	47 of 597	92.1%	★★★★★
2010	82.9	69 of 589	88.3%	★★★★☆
2009	81.5	75 of 580	87.1%	★★★★☆
2008	80.2	79 of 577	86.3%	★★★★☆
2007	79.9	86 of 566	84.8%	★★★★☆
2006	82.8	63 of 559	88.7%	★★★★☆
2005	84.6	54 of 557	90.3%	★★★★★
2004	85.3	52 of 550	90.5%	★★★★★
2003	81.1	86 of 542	84.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	85.7	60 of 589	89.8%	★★★★☆
2025	80.2	94 of 581	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	85.8	68 of 565	88.0%	★★★★☆
2023	81.0	96 of 580	83.4%	★★★★☆
2022	71.4	150 of 573	73.8%	★★★★☆
2021	67.8	166 of 554	70.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.7	65 of 588	88.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.7	21 of 624	96.6%	★★★★★
2025	92.7	20 of 613	96.7%	★★★★★
2024	87.4	44 of 599	92.7%	★★★★★
2023	76.2	120 of 608	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	80.8	89 of 600	85.2%	★★★★☆
2021	85.9	57 of 580	90.2%	★★★★★
2019	86.8	42 of 600	93.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.7	85 of 583	85.4%	★★★★☆
2025	93.1	25 of 586	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	82.1	91 of 568	84.0%	★★★★☆
2023	66.2	188 of 582	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.6	136 of 579	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	78.7	107 of 561	80.9%	★★★★☆
2019	84.2	76 of 590	87.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.1	168 of 454	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	67.4	152 of 460	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.7	166 of 441	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.9	234 of 463	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.7	251 of 455	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.6	211 of 439	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.2	160 of 472	66.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)97th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)90th percentile~ school

Male (2026)85th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)63rd percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts78%+14 vs state

Science77%+26 vs state

Mathematics74%+20 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, December 18, 2017

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Schools Near Ambler 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	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 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 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
Ambler Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	838 Ambler School Road	Pickens	29671	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-1200	316	23	14.0		277 (87.7%)	12 (3.8%)	15 (4.7%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.5%)	87.1	73^rd of 649 public elementary schools	88.8%		88.9	54^th of 640 public elementary schools	91.6%	19	77.1	84.1	74.6			70.9	77.3	73.1			77.2		$12,835	$531	$643	$1,174	$10,435	$1,226	$11,661
Hagood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	435 Sparks Lane	Pickens	29671	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 397-1900	567	37	15.2		492 (86.8%)	14 (2.5%)	24 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.5%)	45.4	345^th of 649 public elementary schools	46.8%		54.4	280^th of 640 public elementary schools	56.3%	65	69.0	68.4	56.5			58.3	45.0	35.3			38.6		$11,351	$525	$569	$1,094	$9,121	$1,136	$10,258
Pickens Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	567 Hampton Avenue	Pickens	29671	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-2300	493	37	13.2		401 (81.3%)	19 (3.9%)	38 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.1%)	47.5	324^th of 649 public elementary schools	50.1%		53.3	287^th of 640 public elementary schools	55.2%	37	50.0	54.2	60.5			61.5	53.0	53.1			49.4		$13,291	$872	$632	$1,504	$10,552	$1,235	$11,787
Dacusville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Cherokee Trail	Easley	29640	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 397-2800	573	36	15.7		467 (81.5%)	4 (0.7%)	62 (10.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.6%)	64.4	225^th of 649 public elementary schools	65.3%		60.2	253^rd of 640 public elementary schools	60.5%	28	67.9	65.2	68.4			49.4	61.4	58.2			63.7		$11,885	$531	$622	$1,153	$9,579	$1,153	$10,732
McKissick Academy of Science & Technology	Public	PK, KG-5	156 McKissick Road	Easley	29640	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 397-2200	519	37	14.0		300 (57.8%)	50 (9.6%)	116 (22.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (10.0%)	66.7	208^th of 649 public elementary schools	68.0%		80.5	113^th of 640 public elementary schools	82.3%	95	69.1	65.8	71.2			70.3	60.5	56.3			47.3		$12,284	$1,110	$786	$1,896	$9,262	$1,126	$10,389
East End Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	505 East Second Avenue	Easley	29640	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-1700	618	43	14.4		353 (57.1%)	91 (14.7%)	103 (16.7%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (11.0%)	56.3	264^th of 649 public elementary schools	59.3%		64.7	225^th of 640 public elementary schools	64.8%	39	47.3	78.0	71.3			40.9	67.6	57.5			63.7		$11,347	$606	$632	$1,238	$8,983	$1,127	$10,109
Lakes and Bridges Charter School	Public, Charter	1-8	1600 E Main Street	Easley	29641	Pickens County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(864) 442-5580	204	24	8.5		162 (79.4%)	12 (5.9%)	16 (7.8%)	2 (1.0%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.4%)	13.9	587^th of 649 public elementary schools	9.6%		5	634^th of 640 public elementary schools	0.9%	47	19.4	30.0	23.0	46.9	62.9	29.1	20.0	23.1	21.9	33.3	25.0	46.9	$16,547	$1,238	$1,270	$2,508	$10,676	$3,364	$14,039
Slater Marietta Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Baker Circle	Marietta	29661	Greenville County	Greenville 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 355-2000	307	24	12.8		249 (81.1%)	12 (3.9%)	33 (10.7%)	5 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	56.4	262^nd of 649 public elementary schools	59.6%		56.8	270^th of 640 public elementary schools	57.8%	8	70.6	64.7	58.8			64.7	49.1	39.3			60.8		$16,124	$2,215	$866	$3,082	$12,053	$990	$13,043
Crosswell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	161 School Road	Easley	29640	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 397-1600	554	45	12.3		333 (60.1%)	27 (4.9%)	155 (28.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.9%)	44.3	356^th of 649 public elementary schools	45.1%		45.6	338^th of 640 public elementary schools	47.2%	18	58.3	58.4	64.1			48.1	47.7	56.4			38.7		$13,545	$1,220	$799	$2,019	$10,438	$1,088	$11,526
West End Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	314 Pelzer Highway	Easley	29642	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 397-2500	643	52	12.4		372 (57.9%)	70 (10.9%)	123 (19.1%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (11.4%)	55	270^th of 649 public elementary schools	58.4%		46.5	331^st of 640 public elementary schools	48.3%	61	71.4	71.0	56.7			71.1	48.4	31.3			51.6		$11,465	$1,194	$700	$1,894	$8,570	$1,001	$9,571

Frequently Asked Questions about Ambler Elementary

What schools do graduates of Ambler Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ambler Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pickens Middle
High : Pickens High

Is Ambler Elementary a good school?

Ambler Elementary ranks 73^rd of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Ambler Elementary?

Students at Ambler Elementary are 88% White, 5% Hispanic, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Ambler Elementary in?

Pickens 01

How many students attend Ambler Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 316 students attended Ambler Elementary.

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresNewAug 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.