Summary
Kingstree Middle Magnet serves 341 students in grades 6-8 in Kingstree, SC, as part of the Williamsburg 01 school district, and is the largest middle school in its immediate area.
This school shows a really interesting mix of strengths and challenges. The most impressive finding is how well the school serves its African American students—in recent years, it ranked in the 79th percentile statewide for this group, earning 4-star ratings, which is far better than its overall ranking would suggest. Reading and English Language Arts are relative bright spots, especially in 7th and 8th grade, where proficiency rates actually beat district averages. For example, 7th grade ELA hit 52.9% proficiency, outperforming nearby Ronald E. McNair Junior High (47.9%) and even C. E. Murray Middle (44.8%). The school also improved its student-teacher ratio to a favorable 11.3, and has made meaningful progress in serving students with disabilities, jumping from the 3rd to the 27th percentile in just a few years.
However, math remains a significant hurdle, with 6th grade proficiency at just 15% in 2025-2026—well below the state average of 40.9%. Chronic absenteeism, while improved from 42.1% to 31.5%, is still above the state average, though it's actually better than the district rate of 35.6%. There's also a concern for gifted students, where the school ranks in the 2nd percentile, suggesting high-achieving kids may not be getting enough challenge. Per-student spending jumped dramatically from $6,707 to $17,785 in one year, which is comparable to nearby schools like St. Stephen Middle ($23,473) and McNair ($17,708). The school's overall trajectory shows improvement over the past few years, and with continued focus on math and gifted education, there's real potential for growth.
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