Beech Springs Middle

Beech Springs Middle in Duncan, SC, serves 584 students in grades 6-8 as part of Spartanburg 05, a district ranked in the top 16% statewide. The school holds a solid 3-star rating (64th percentile) among South Carolina middle schools, placing it in the upper-middle tier, though it trails nearby district peers like Abner Creek Middle (4 stars) and Florence Chapel Middle (4 stars).

One of Beech Springs' standout strengths is student attendance. Its chronic absenteeism rate has held steady around 14-16% over the past three years—well below the district average (19%) and state average (22%). This is especially notable compared to nearby schools like Greer Middle (27.1%) and Fairforest Middle (23.9%). The school also excels with students from low-income backgrounds, ranking in the 72nd percentile for this group despite 81% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. English Language Learners also perform well, ranking in the 64th percentile. A favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.4:1—better than most nearby schools—likely supports these successes.

Academically, Beech Springs shows a mixed picture. Sixth graders outperform both district and state averages in math (45.5% proficiency), but the advantage fades by 7th and 8th grades, where scores fall below district averages. In English Language Arts, students show steady improvement, with 8th graders nearly closing the gap with the district average (64.2% vs. 64.3%). The school's biggest challenge is serving students with disabilities, where it ranks in the 46th percentile—its only subgroup below the state median. With a moderate per-student spending of $12,494 and a strong foundation in attendance and equity, Beech Springs has clear opportunities to build on its strengths in upper-grade math and special education.