Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 29047

Zip code 29047, encompassing the town of Elloree, SC, is served by a single elementary school, Elloree Elementary, which educates students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade with a total enrollment of 252 students.

Elloree Elementary is a small, PK-8 school that stands out for its very high per-student spending of $23,888 and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1, suggesting relatively small class sizes. However, academic performance is inconsistent and generally below state averages. In English Language Arts, 4th graders performed well with 65.1% proficiency, nearly matching the state average, but 5th graders struggled significantly at just 23.5% proficiency. Math scores were uniformly low across all grades, with 3rd grade at 27.4%, 4th grade at 34.9%, and 5th grade at 33.3% proficiency, all well below state levels. The school's strongest subject is science, where 4th graders achieved 48.8% proficiency, exceeding the district average by over 13 points and nearly matching the state. The school has held a 1-star rating for three consecutive years, ranking in the 21st percentile statewide, and shows notable year-over-year volatility, likely due to small cohort sizes.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Elloree Elementary offers a close-knit environment with small classes and high investment per student, but academic results are mixed and unpredictable from year to year. While it outperforms the struggling Orangeburg district in several areas—including 4th grade ELA, science, and chronic absenteeism (18.9% vs. the district's 30.9%)—it still lags state averages in most subjects. The school's performance can swing dramatically between grade levels and years, so parents should look at specific grade-level data rather than overall trends. The high spending with modest outcomes raises questions about resource effectiveness, but the relatively low chronic absenteeism and pockets of strong performance, particularly in 4th grade, suggest potential bright spots within a school facing significant academic challenges.