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Jefferson Elementary

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 279 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

279^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary is a PK-4 school in York, SC, serving 378 students within the York 01 district, and it has become one of the most improved elementary schools in the area. Just two years ago, the school ranked in the bottom third of South Carolina elementary schools, but it has since climbed from the 34th percentile to the 58th percentile statewide—a dramatic 24-point jump that earned it a 3-star rating. This upward trajectory is especially notable because the school serves a student population where 100% of families qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet it now outperforms several nearby schools with more resources, including Cotton Belt Elementary (27th percentile) and Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary (51st percentile).

Jefferson's greatest strength is its work with economically disadvantaged students, ranking in the 64th percentile statewide for low-SES performance—higher than its overall ranking and a remarkable feat given its demographics. English Language Arts is a clear standout, with 3rd grade proficiency at 65.4% and 4th grade at 65%, both above district and state averages. Science is another success story, with 4th graders hitting 53.3% proficiency, exceeding both the district (47.9%) and state (51.6%). The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1, smaller than most comparable schools like Old Pointe Elementary (15.0) and Hunter Street Elementary (13.3), which likely supports the personalized attention driving these gains.

However, there are areas needing attention. Math performance has been volatile, dropping from 63.9% proficiency in 2024-2025 to just 45.5% in 2025-2026—below both district and state averages. Chronic absenteeism, while better than the district average, has crept up to 22.1%, and the school has seen a concerning decline in performance for its African American students over recent years. On a positive note, the school has made significant progress supporting students with disabilities, jumping from the 5th percentile to the 45th percentile in just a few years. Overall, Jefferson Elementary is a school on the rise that is achieving impressive results despite significant challenges, making it a compelling option for families in the York area.

378

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,006

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1543 Chester Highway
York, SC 29745

(803) 684-1942

District: York 01

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	York Intermediate
	York Middle
High:	York Comprehensive High

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.3%

African American:

21.4%

Hispanic:

10.3%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Jefferson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 40th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the South Carolina median (58th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg56%

South Carolina avg59%

279^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▲ up 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Elementary Schools in the York 01

35^th of 75York 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	54.7	279 of 661	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.2	246 of 639	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.9	426 of 643	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.6	423 of 644	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.6	412 of 625	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.9	340 of 622	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.5	365 of 643	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.6	330 of 624	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	24.5	496 of 639	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	41.1	374 of 619	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	37.1	413 of 638	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	26.9	507 of 630	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.4	474 of 599	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	38.4	414 of 594	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	39.0	416 of 597	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	37.4	415 of 589	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	49.5	315 of 580	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.8	351 of 577	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	58.2	248 of 566	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	62.5	233 of 559	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	65.1	203 of 557	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	58.2	243 of 550	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2003	42.7	343 of 542	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.2	338 of 384	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.3	240 of 421	43.0%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	83 of 156	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.0	110 of 143	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.2	144 of 151	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	47.6	57 of 122	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.7	101 of 161	37.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.5	230 of 599	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.1	232 of 580	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	20.1	468 of 568	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.9	416 of 580	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.8	407 of 573	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.5	377 of 554	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.2	282 of 588	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.9	305 of 570	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.8	232 of 634	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.5	296 of 612	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.6	429 of 602	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.6	398 of 608	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.2	367 of 600	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.7	263 of 580	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.8	276 of 600	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.2	235 of 588	60.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.2	321 of 591	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.2	237 of 585	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.2	330 of 571	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.0	356 of 582	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.6	373 of 579	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.5	264 of 561	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.3	388 of 590	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.4	319 of 571	44.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.4	305 of 463	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.3	267 of 459	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	15.8	400 of 446	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.4	369 of 463	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.5	391 of 455	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.4	343 of 439	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.2	356 of 472	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.6	360 of 457	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)63rd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)62nd percentile+4 vs school

Disabled (2026)47th percentile-11 vs school

Male (2026)46th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)34th percentile-24 vs school

African American (2026)12th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts65%~ state avg

Mathematics53%~ state avg

Science53%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Jefferson 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 (2024)	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
Jefferson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1543 Chester Highway	York	29745	York County	York 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 684-1942	378	32	11.8	100.0%	224 (59.3%)	81 (21.4%)	39 (10.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.2%)	54.7	279^th of 661 public elementary schools	57.8%		61.2	246^th of 639 public elementary schools	61.5%	33	65.4	65.0			61.4	45.5			53.3		$16,006	$2,323	$908	$3,231	$10,738	$2,037	$12,775
Harold C. Johnson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	400 East Jefferson Street	York	29745	York County	York 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 818-6040	388	32	12.3	100.0%	192 (49.5%)	92 (23.7%)	60 (15.5%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (10.3%)	47.6	328^th of 661 public elementary schools	50.4%		27.8	467^th of 639 public elementary schools	26.9%	139	64.6	59.3			63.1	42.3			44.1		$16,699	$2,918	$910	$3,828	$11,385	$1,485	$12,871
Hunter Street Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1100 Hunter Street	York	29745	York County	York 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 684-1926	427	32	13.3	60.5%	245 (57.4%)	81 (19.0%)	52 (12.2%)	9 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.1%)	67.8	207^th of 661 public elementary schools	68.7%		65.4	222^nd of 639 public elementary schools	65.3%	15	67.1	73.0			57.9	62.9			61.5		$16,545	$2,471	$1,261	$3,732	$11,439	$1,374	$12,813
Cotton Belt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1176 Black Highway	York	29745	York County	York 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 684-1947	428	34	12.7	71.0%	234 (54.7%)	103 (24.1%)	42 (9.8%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (10.0%)	27.7	478^th of 661 public elementary schools	27.7%		25.7	484^th of 639 public elementary schools	24.3%	6	52.9	45.9			50.0	45.9			34.1		$15,517	$1,528	$837	$2,365	$11,729	$1,422	$13,151
Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4901 Hickory Grove Road	Hickory Grove	29717	York County	York 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 925-2116	401	29	13.8	64.2%	333 (83.0%)	21 (5.2%)	21 (5.2%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.5%)	48.5	325^th of 661 public elementary schools	50.8%		40.1	376^th of 639 public elementary schools	41.2%	51	64.2	63.3	46.3	61.8	56.7	45.0	43.9	40.0	46.7	49.0	$14,293	$2,096	$1,166	$3,262	$9,571	$1,460	$11,031
Larne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3598 Filbert Highway	Clover	29710	York County	York 02	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 810-8600	574	54	10.6	60.1%	389 (67.8%)	73 (12.7%)	55 (9.6%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	53 (9.2%)	79.9	124^th of 661 public elementary schools	81.2%		77.3	138^th of 639 public elementary schools	78.4%	14	73.9	73.1	76.4		72.8	70.5	67.7		57.7		$16,913	$1,540	$505	$2,045	$12,911	$1,957	$14,868
Old Pointe Elementary	Public	K-5	380 Old Pointe School Road	Rock Hill	29732	York County	York 03	No	No	No	No	(803) 980-2040	565	38	15.0	71.0%	235 (41.6%)	198 (35.0%)	83 (14.7%)	11 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.7%)	46.2	343^rd of 661 public elementary schools	48.1%		44.2	345^th of 639 public elementary schools	46.0%	2	65.7	58.5	63.1		51.4	45.0	46.0		47.7		$14,474	$452	$849	$1,301	$11,305	$1,868	$13,173
York Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2254 West Main Street	Rock Hill	29732	York County	York 03	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 981-1950	431	34	12.6	100.0%	131 (30.4%)	206 (47.8%)	58 (13.5%)	4 (0.9%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.5%)	22.1	523^rd of 661 public elementary schools	20.9%		14.8	564^th of 639 public elementary schools	11.7%	41	63.7	48.7	42.0		40.6	31.6	30.4		31.6		$15,904	$642	$1,002	$1,645	$12,384	$1,876	$14,260
Kinard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Pressly Street	Clover	29710	York County	York 02	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 810-8700	463	36	13.0	61.6%	261 (56.4%)	113 (24.4%)	36 (7.8%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (10.6%)	66.9	210^th of 661 public elementary schools	68.2%		65.8	219^th of 639 public elementary schools	65.7%	9	72.4	80.0	63.7		59.4	60.0	48.5		58.6		$15,152	$859	$496	$1,355	$12,000	$1,797	$13,797
Mount Gallant Elementary	Public	K-5	4664 Mount Gallant Road	Rock Hill	29732	York County	York 03	No	No	No	No	(803) 981-1360	469	34	13.9	42.0%	275 (58.6%)	95 (20.3%)	65 (13.9%)	7 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.5%)	81.5	114^th of 661 public elementary schools	82.8%		86	77^th of 639 public elementary schools	87.9%	37	76.8	76.1	78.6		68.6	65.2	66.6		67.4		$14,644	$325	$805	$1,131	$11,923	$1,590	$13,513

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 378 students attended Jefferson Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary?

Students at Jefferson Elementary are 59% White, 21% African American, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 279^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : York Intermediate
Middle : York Middle
High : York Comprehensive High

What district is Jefferson Elementary in?

York 01

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 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.