Rafting Creek Elementary

Rafting Creek Elementary is a small, rural school in Rembert, SC, serving 125 students in grades PK-5 within the Sumter 01 school district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school has experienced a dramatic decline in academic performance over the past decade, falling from the 68th percentile statewide in 2016-2017 to the 1st percentile by 2025-2026. Current test scores show significant gaps compared to state averages—for example, only 18.1% of 4th graders are proficient in math versus 52.3% statewide, and science proficiency is similarly low at 18.1% versus 51.6% statewide. Even the school's relative strength, 4th grade ELA at 36.3% proficiency, trails the state average by nearly 30 points. The school spends $20,108 per student—considerably more than nearby schools like Alice Drive Elementary ($14,710) or Millwood Elementary ($13,098)—and maintains a favorable 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio, yet outcomes remain among the lowest in the state. Chronic absenteeism has been volatile, spiking to 29.5% in 2024-2025, though this remains below the district average of 35.9%.

There are reasons for cautious optimism. During the 2022-2023 school year, 4th grade math proficiency reached 42.3%—well above the district's 27.1%—demonstrating the school's capacity for improvement. However, that momentum was not sustained. The contrast with Pine Tree Hill Elementary, just 13 miles away in the Kershaw 01 district, is striking: Pine Tree Hill ranks in the 64th percentile with 67.7% ELA proficiency and 60% math proficiency, despite serving a similar rural community. This suggests that factors beyond poverty—such as instructional quality, attendance interventions, and family engagement—can make a meaningful difference. For parents considering this school, it's important to understand both the current challenges and the evidence that better outcomes are achievable with the right support.