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Central Academy of the Arts

Q: Is Central Academy of the Arts a good school?

Central Academy of the Arts ranks 355 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

355^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Central Academy of the Arts is an elementary school in Central, SC, serving 499 students in grades PK–5 within the Pickens 01 school district, a district that ranks in the top quarter of South Carolina.

One of the most impressive things about this school is its attendance record. Despite 100% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the chronic absenteeism rate is just 13.7%—far better than the district average of 24.3% and the state average of 22.3%. This tells us that families are engaged and kids are showing up ready to learn, which is a strong foundation. The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.7 and spends slightly above the state average per student, so resources aren't the issue. However, the school's overall state ranking dropped sharply this year, from the 60th percentile to the 46th percentile. The main culprit is mathematics: only 42.4% of 3rd graders, 49.4% of 4th graders, and 53.5% of 5th graders are proficient in math, which is 10–17 points below the district average and 7–10 points below the state average. This is a significant decline from the prior year, when the school was at or above state averages in 3rd and 4th grade math.

In contrast, ELA performance is respectable—5th grade proficiency (63.6%) exactly matches the state average. This "tale of two subjects" suggests a need for targeted math intervention, especially in the early grades. When compared to nearby schools, the picture is mixed. Clemson Elementary (3.5 miles away) is a top-tier school with ELA scores 20–25 points higher, though it serves a more affluent population. Six Mile Elementary also outperforms in math by 10–20 points. However, Liberty Elementary is the most comparable in ranking, and Central Academy actually beats it in 4th grade science (45.4% vs. 35.1%). The school's strong attendance and stable ELA scores provide a solid base—the immediate priority should be a data-driven focus on math instruction to reverse this year's decline.

499

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,717

Per pupil spending ?

59.6%

Directly certified for free meals (2023-24) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2023-24)

608 Johnson Road
Central, SC 29630

(864) 397-1400

District: Pickens 01

Students who attend Central Academy of the Arts usually attend:

Middle:	R. C. Edwards Middle
High:	D. W. Daniel High

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.1%

African American:

15.8%

Hispanic:

15.4%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Central Academy of the Arts to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2016 → 46th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2016

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

!Near the bottom of Pickens 01's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg61%

South Carolina avg58%

355^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From top 35% (2016) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th 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	45.2	355 of 661	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.3	259 of 639	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	234 of 643	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.8	202 of 644	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.1	322 of 625	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.5	309 of 622	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.7	279 of 643	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.8	269 of 624	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.6	175 of 639	72.6%	★★★★☆
2016	64.1	217 of 619	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	51.7	289 of 638	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	38.8	422 of 630	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	64.5	212 of 599	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.8	231 of 594	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	70.5	167 of 597	72.0%	★★★★☆
2010	62.6	212 of 589	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	60.8	238 of 580	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	60.2	241 of 577	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	47.3	336 of 566	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	62.0	234 of 559	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	66.6	193 of 557	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	61.8	218 of 550	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2003	61.3	223 of 542	58.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.0	90 of 156	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.0	315 of 599	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	63.1	216 of 580	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.4	255 of 568	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.0	238 of 580	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.1	391 of 573	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.3	268 of 554	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.9	258 of 588	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.5	268 of 570	53.0%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.0	158 of 196	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	61.2	46 of 82	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.1	358 of 634	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	61.9	214 of 612	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.3	188 of 602	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.7	107 of 608	82.4%	★★★★☆
2022	47.8	318 of 600	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.6	308 of 580	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.9	317 of 600	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.4	262 of 588	55.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	354 of 591	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.3	289 of 585	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.4	195 of 571	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.2	169 of 582	71.0%	★★★★☆
2022	61.6	225 of 579	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.1	321 of 561	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.1	283 of 590	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.1	276 of 571	51.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.5	338 of 463	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	46.1	269 of 459	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	240 of 446	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.8	252 of 463	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.3	314 of 455	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.4	327 of 439	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	52.3	239 of 472	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.1	304 of 457	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2026)47th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)44th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2026)42nd percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)40th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)27th percentile-19 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)19th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts60%-5 vs state

Mathematics49%-5 vs state

Science45%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Academy of the Arts

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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 (2026)
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/reduced lunch (2023-24)	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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th 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
Central Academy of the Arts	Public	PK, KG-5	608 Johnson Road	Central	29630	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-1400	499	36	13.7	—	280 (56.1%)	79 (15.8%)	77 (15.4%)	10 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	52 (10.4%)	45.2	355^th of 661 public elementary schools	46.3%		59.3	259^th of 639 public elementary schools	59.5%	96	55.2	59.8	63.6		42.4	49.4	53.5		45.4		$12,717	$540	$609	$1,148	$10,554	$1,015	$11,569
Liberty Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	940 Chastain Road	Liberty	29657	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 397-4800	637	43	14.6	—	518 (81.3%)	17 (2.7%)	51 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (7.5%)								(n/a)											$13,057	$1,092	$745	$1,837	$10,010	$1,211	$11,220
Clemson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	581 Berkeley Drive	Clemson	29631	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-1500	794	55	14.4	37.5%	546 (68.8%)	85 (10.7%)	38 (4.8%)	76 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (6.2%)	90.9	42^nd of 661 public elementary schools	93.6%		88.8	56^th of 639 public elementary schools	91.2%	14	80.3	82.1	81.2		81.8	85.4	72.2		72.5		$12,704	$791	$517	$1,308	$10,216	$1,179	$11,395
Liberty Elementary	Public	3-5	251 North Hillcrest Street	Liberty	29657	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 397-2100	470	36	13.2	—	397 (84.5%)	12 (2.6%)	30 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.6%)	42.6	379^th of 661 public elementary schools	42.7%		44.8	341^st of 639 public elementary schools	46.6%	38	56.2	58.6	63.2		48.7	42.7	66.9		35.1		$13,904	$1,334	$771	$2,105	$10,216	$1,583	$11,799
Pendleton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	902 East Queen Street	Pendleton	29670	Anderson County	Anderson 04	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 403-2500	547	41	13.4	—	325 (59.4%)	116 (21.2%)	28 (5.1%)	13 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (11.9%)	66.4	214^th of 661 public elementary schools	67.6%		65.5	221^st of 639 public elementary schools	65.4%	7	77.2	62.0	63.7	65.0	74.7	46.2	55.0	51.6	53.9	61.7	$15,290	$1,020	$1,176	$2,196	$11,055	$2,039	$13,094
Six Mile Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	777 North Main Street	Six Mile	29682	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-2400	571	39	14.5	57.2%	515 (90.2%)	8 (1.4%)	18 (3.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.7%)	74.8	160^th of 661 public elementary schools	75.8%		73.7	171^st of 639 public elementary schools	73.2%	11	66.3	76.3	77.9		61.8	60.8	64.0		65.9		$11,777	$548	$550	$1,098	$9,444	$1,236	$10,680
Ravenel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	150 Ravenel School Road	Seneca	29678	Oconee County	Oconee 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 886-4450	530	41	12.9	73.0%	298 (56.2%)	122 (23.0%)	53 (10.0%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	48 (9.1%)	71.3	182^nd of 661 public elementary schools	72.5%		63.7	233^rd of 639 public elementary schools	63.5%	51	78.6	68.4	66.0		74.2	65.8	54.2		55.7		$14,816	$219	$737	$955	$12,289	$1,572	$13,861
La France Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	550 Williams Street	Pendleton	29670	Anderson County	Anderson 04	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 403-2300	450	31	14.5	66.4%	336 (74.7%)	46 (10.2%)	29 (6.4%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.6%)	92.5	34^th of 661 public elementary schools	94.9%		93.1	30^th of 639 public elementary schools	95.3%	4	69.1	89.6	83.9	87.0	78.2	82.1	82.1	86.9	71.6	85.5	$14,823	$790	$1,155	$1,945	$11,125	$1,753	$12,878
Mt. Lebanon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2850 Lebanon Road	Pendleton	29670	Anderson County	Anderson 04	No	No	No	No	(864) 403-2400	459	35	13.1	55.6%	378 (82.4%)	28 (6.1%)	27 (5.9%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.1%)	88.8	59^th of 661 public elementary schools	91.1%		92.6	33^rd of 639 public elementary schools	94.8%	26	73.9	83.5	83.3	83.1	61.5	76.8	80.5	71.5	72.6	75.4	$15,106	$718	$1,001	$1,719	$11,639	$1,748	$13,387
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	330^th of 661 public elementary schools	50.1%		53.3	287^th of 639 public elementary schools	55.1%	43	50.0	54.2	60.5		61.5	53.0	53.1		49.4		$13,789	$936	$577	$1,513	$11,019	$1,257	$12,276

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Academy of the Arts

What district is Central Academy of the Arts in?

Pickens 01

Is Central Academy of the Arts a good school?

Central Academy of the Arts ranks 355^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Central Academy of the Arts?

Students at Central Academy of the Arts are 56% White, 16% African American, 15% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Central Academy of the Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 499 students attended Central Academy of the Arts.

What schools do graduates of Central Academy of the Arts attend?

Students who attend Central Academy of the Arts usually go on to attend:

Middle : R. C. Edwards Middle
High : D. W. Daniel High

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 10, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 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.