Estill Middle

Estill Middle in Estill, SC, is a small school serving 154 students in grades 5-8 within the Hampton district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. While the school spends a substantial $17,660 per student—well above the state average—its overall state ranking has slipped to the 15th percentile, and academic results vary dramatically depending on the grade level and subject.

The most striking pattern is the "sawtooth" effect in English Language Arts: 5th and 7th graders hit about 50% proficiency, while 6th graders drop to 20% and 8th graders to 25.8%. Math is consistently tough across all grades, with proficiency rates roughly half the state average, though 7th grade math (40.5%) is a notable bright spot that nearly matches the state. Science is a particular weakness, with only 11.4% of 6th graders proficient—a 40-point gap from the state average. There's also a significant gender gap: female students rank in the 60th percentile statewide, while male students sit in the 29th percentile. Chronic absenteeism has stabilized to about 21.7%, near the state average, after a spike to 39.3% a few years ago.

Compared to North District Middle in the same district, Estill trails in nearly every subject—for example, 8th grade ELA is 25.8% versus 50.4% at North District. Even Allendale-Fairfax Middle, in a lower-ranked district with higher absenteeism, outperforms Estill in most grades and subjects. The 7th grade consistently stands out, suggesting a particularly effective teaching team or a strong cohort. For parents, the key takeaway is that while funding and attendance are in line with or better than peers, the school's instructional consistency and math/science support are areas that need attention.