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Pickens Elementary

Q: Is Pickens Elementary a good school?

Pickens Elementary ranks 324 th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

324^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 649 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Pickens Elementary is a PK-5 school in Pickens, SC, serving 493 students within the Pickens 01 district—a district ranked 17th out of 75 statewide. The school has held a steady mid-tier position over the past decade, currently ranking in the 50th percentile (3 stars) among South Carolina elementary schools. What stands out most is that 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet the school achieves near-average overall performance—a strong sign that it is effectively supporting its economically disadvantaged population. In fact, low-income students at Pickens rank in the 58th-62nd percentile statewide, which is notably better than many schools serving more affluent communities.

There are a few areas of concern worth noting. Female students have seen a sharp decline in rankings, dropping from the 62nd percentile in 2023-2024 to just the 35th percentile in 2025-2026—a 27-point slide that may warrant attention. Support for disabled students has also weakened, falling from the 75th percentile in 2018-2019 to the 47th percentile today. Chronic absenteeism, while improved from pandemic-era highs, remains elevated at 21.8%, higher than nearby Six Mile Elementary (14.0%) and Ambler Elementary (13.6%). On the positive side, math outcomes have improved meaningfully—3rd grade math proficiency (61.5%) now exceeds both district and state averages, suggesting successful intervention strategies that could be replicated in other subjects.

Compared to its neighbors, Pickens sits in the middle of the pack. Ambler Elementary (89th percentile) and Six Mile Elementary (76th percentile) outperform, while Liberty Elementary (43rd) and Hagood Elementary (47th) trail behind. The school spends about $13,300 per student—roughly $1,800 more than several nearby schools—yet doesn't consistently outpace them academically. That said, the nearby Lakes and Bridges Charter School spends 25% more per student while ranking in the bottom 10th percentile, highlighting that Pickens delivers far better educational value. With a favorable 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio and a stable trajectory, Pickens Elementary has solid foundations—and clear opportunities to close the gap with its highest-performing neighbors.

493

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,291

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

567 Hampton Avenue
Pickens, SC 29671

(864) 397-2300

District: Pickens 01

Students who attend Pickens Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Pickens Middle
High:	Pickens High

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.3%

Hispanic:

7.7%

Two or more races:

7.1%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Pickens Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 64th percentile in 2017 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the South Carolina median (50th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 64th-percentile peak (2017) to 50th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg61%

South Carolina avg58%

324^th of 649

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 35% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^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	47.5	324 of 649	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.3	287 of 640	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.6	241 of 638	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.3	291 of 644	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.6	310 of 625	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.3	364 of 622	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.5	332 of 643	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.9	298 of 624	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.9	228 of 639	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	36.7	400 of 619	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.1	352 of 638	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	48.2	361 of 630	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	58.3	272 of 599	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.7	217 of 594	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.3	281 of 597	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	54.5	287 of 589	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	52.6	295 of 580	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	63.0	223 of 577	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	60.7	233 of 566	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	68.2	172 of 559	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	59.3	250 of 557	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	59.2	237 of 550	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2003	63.5	204 of 542	62.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.0	82 of 154	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.5	62 of 143	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.7	47 of 189	75.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.8	382 of 589	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.0	307 of 581	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.5	214 of 565	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.0	286 of 580	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.2	261 of 573	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.2	326 of 554	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.5	288 of 588	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.9	259 of 570	54.6%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	52.3	4 of 6	33.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	28.5	5 of 5	0.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	3 of 5	40.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.5	324 of 624	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.7	256 of 613	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.8	228 of 599	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.0	290 of 608	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.2	263 of 600	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.2	290 of 580	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.8	407 of 600	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.7	331 of 588	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.8	256 of 583	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.4	243 of 586	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.2	254 of 568	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.5	270 of 582	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.0	328 of 579	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.7	350 of 561	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.9	364 of 590	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.8	314 of 571	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.8	370 of 454	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.9	354 of 460	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.8	310 of 441	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.3	359 of 463	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	358 of 455	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.2	404 of 439	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	25.1	378 of 472	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.2	371 of 457	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)56th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)48th percentile~ school

Disabled (2026)47th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)35th percentile-15 vs school

Homeless (2024)33rd percentile-29 vs school

White (2026)19th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics56%~ state avg

English Language Arts55%-9 vs state

Science49%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Pickens 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
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
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
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
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%)	42.7	373^rd of 649 public elementary schools	42.5%		44.8	341^st of 640 public elementary schools	46.7%	32	56.2	58.6	63.2			48.7	42.7	66.9			35.1		$13,738	$1,692	$773	$2,465	$10,135	$1,138	$11,273
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
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
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
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		515 (90.2%)	8 (1.4%)	18 (3.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.7%)	74.9	158^th of 649 public elementary schools	75.7%		73.7	171^st of 640 public elementary schools	73.3%	13	66.3	76.3	77.9			61.8	60.8	64.0			65.9		$11,326	$573	$572	$1,145	$9,143	$1,038	$10,181
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
Forest Acres Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	401 McAlister Road	Easley	29642	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-1800	677	45	14.9		476 (70.3%)	48 (7.1%)	71 (10.5%)	23 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (8.7%)	70.8	186^th of 649 public elementary schools	71.3%		80.6	112^th of 640 public elementary schools	82.5%	74	73.4	80.4	78.1			70.9	54.4	53.3			45.6		$11,451	$452	$481	$932	$9,494	$1,024	$10,519

Frequently Asked Questions about Pickens Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Pickens Elementary?

Students at Pickens Elementary are 81% White, 8% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 4% African American.

How many students attend Pickens Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 493 students attended Pickens Elementary.

Is Pickens Elementary a good school?

Pickens Elementary ranks 324^th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Pickens Elementary in?

Pickens 01

What schools do graduates of Pickens Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pickens Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pickens Middle
High : Pickens High

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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.