Sheridan Elementary

Sheridan Elementary is a PK-5 public school in Orangeburg, SC, serving 450 students in a high-poverty area within the Orangeburg school district. The school has ranked in the bottom 10% of South Carolina elementary schools for the past five years, though it is not the lowest-performing school in its immediate area.

One of the most encouraging findings is a notable strength in 4th-grade math. In the most recent school year, 50% of Sheridan's 4th graders scored proficient in math—15 points above the district average and nearly matching the state average. This is a remarkable outlier for a school that otherwise scores 10–20 points below state averages, suggesting a particularly effective teacher or intervention program at that grade level. However, these gains don't seem to carry into 5th grade, where math proficiency drops to just 20.8%. Another positive trend is the school's improving performance for its African American students, who have climbed from the 21st percentile statewide two years ago to the 34th percentile this year—a 13-point improvement that suggests targeted interventions may be working.

There are also areas of concern. Chronic absenteeism has nearly quadrupled in three years, rising from 7.5% to 27.9%, though this is still better than nearby Edisto Elementary (39.6%) and Whittaker Elementary (37.7%). Fifth-grade reading scores have declined sharply, dropping from 37.5% proficiency to 28.3% over two years—now 35 points below the state average. Compared to nearby schools, Sheridan sits mid-pack: it outperforms Mellichamp Elementary (ranked 642nd) and Willie Jeffries School of Excellence (ranked 647th), but lags behind Brookdale Elementary (ranked 499th). With relatively high per-pupil spending ($14,393) and a favorable 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio, Sheridan has resources to build on—the key will be replicating its 4th-grade math success across all grades and subjects.