Compass Collegiate Academy

Compass Collegiate Academy is a small public charter elementary school in North Charleston, SC, serving 155 students in grades K-4 under the School Public Charter School District.

Compass Collegiate Academy currently ranks in the bottom 15% of elementary schools statewide, with a 1-star rating. The school shows a notable strength in upper-grade English Language Arts—5th graders hit 60% proficiency, which actually beats nearby Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori (53.3%) and Lambs Elementary (49.3%). However, math tells a very different story: only about 27% of 4th and 5th graders are proficient, compared to state averages above 50%. That's a 20-25 point gap. Scores are also volatile—3rd grade ELA dropped from 63.9% to 41.2% in just one year, suggesting instability in instruction or student cohorts. The school's free/reduced lunch population also shifted dramatically, from 70% to 39.5% in a single year, indicating rapid demographic change.

The most urgent concern is attendance. At 31%, Compass has the highest chronic absenteeism rate within a 3-mile radius—more than double W.B. Goodwin Elementary (14.6%) and well above the state average of 22.3%. This likely drives the low math scores, since students who miss school can't learn. The school spends $16,078 per student, more than North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary ($8,489), yet achieves worse results than schools spending less. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds rank in the bottom 8th percentile statewide, suggesting the school's resources aren't reaching its most vulnerable learners. For parents, the priority should be asking how the school plans to improve attendance and target math instruction, especially for students who need the most support.