Summary:
Zip code 29003 is home to just one middle school, Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle, which serves grades 7 and 8 with a total enrollment of 188 students in the Bamberg 03 district.
For parents considering this school, the most exciting news is the dramatic academic turnaround over the past year. In 2024-2025, the school held a 1-star rating, but it jumped to a 3-star rating in 2025-2026, moving from the 28th percentile to the 50th percentile in state rankings. The improvement in mathematics is particularly striking—proficiency rates nearly doubled, climbing from about 24% to roughly 43% in both 7th and 8th grades. English Language Arts also improved, with 7th grade rising from 45.9% to 56% proficiency and 8th grade from 43% to 48.8%. While ELA still outpaces math, the gap has narrowed considerably. The school now essentially matches or slightly exceeds state averages in math, though it still trails the state in ELA by a few points. The school also outperforms its district across all subjects and grade levels, making it a relative bright spot within Bamberg 03.
Parents should also note some important context. The school spends a substantial $19,476 per student and maintains a favorable 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio, which likely supports the recent gains. However, chronic absenteeism is a concern at 28.4%, notably higher than the state average of 22.3%. Additionally, the school's ranking has been volatile over three years (162nd, 230th, then 166th), which may partly reflect the small student body making year-over-year comparisons less stable. With roughly 94 students per grade, the school offers a small, personalized environment, but families should weigh the attendance challenges against the promising upward trajectory in academics.
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