Summary:
ZIP code 29020 in Camden, South Carolina, is served by 6 schools—4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school—that collectively enroll 3,771 students across the Kershaw 01 district and the Charter Institute at Erskine.
Families in this area face a stark choice in elementary education. Pine Tree Hill Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 64th percentile statewide with proficiency rates that exceed state averages in most subjects and grades—its 5th-grade math proficiency of 50.7% is more than five times higher than Jackson School's 9.3%. Jackson School, ranking in the 2nd percentile, struggles dramatically across every metric despite spending $14,313 per student—more than any other traditional public school in the area. Camden Elementary falls in between, ranking in the 31st percentile with proficiency rates below state averages. The Montessori School of Camden offers a different model with an exceptional 8.9:1 student-teacher ratio and the highest per-student spending ($14,674), though no test score data is available for comparison.
At the secondary level, Camden Middle shows promise, ranking in the 51st percentile with notable improvement in 8th-grade math (from 23.2% to 35.8% proficiency) and an impressive 88.1% proficiency rate for students taking Algebra 1—far exceeding state averages. However, standard math proficiency in grades 6-8 remains below state levels. Camden High ranks in the 42nd percentile with a 2-star rating; its graduation rate (83.9%) and Algebra 1 proficiency (53.1%) both trail state averages, though English 2 proficiency (79.9%) is respectable. Chronic absenteeism correlates strongly with performance—Pine Tree Hill has the lowest rate (13.4%) and best scores, while Jackson School has the highest (23.8%) and worst outcomes—suggesting attendance is a key lever for improvement across this diverse school landscape.
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