Summary:
Zip code 29054 in Gilbert, South Carolina, is served by two public elementary schools—Gilbert Elementary and Centerville Elementary—both part of the highly-rated Lexington 01 district and both serving grades Pre-K through 5th.
For parents comparing the two, Centerville Elementary is the clear academic leader. It ranks 247th in the state (3 stars) versus Gilbert's 377th (2 stars), and it outperforms Gilbert in nearly every subject and grade level. In 2025-2026, Centerville posted significantly higher proficiency in 3rd grade math (70.4% vs. 57.2%), 4th grade science (56.2% vs. 41.3%), and all three ELA grade levels. Centerville has also shown steady improvement in its state ranking for three consecutive years, while Gilbert's progress has been more volatile. Gilbert does spend more per student ($16,409 vs. $14,944) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (12.5:1 vs. 12.8:1), but that hasn't translated into better results. One bright spot for Gilbert is its 5th grade math, which jumped 15.6 points year-over-year, though it still trails the district average.
Both schools share some notable challenges. Each has a chronic absenteeism rate around 20.7-20.8%, meaning roughly one in five students is chronically absent. They also both experienced a significant "4th grade math slump" in 2025-2026, with proficiency dropping by about 8-10 points at each school. While both schools benefit from being in a strong district, they generally trail district averages in upper-grade math and ELA, suggesting the district's reputation is driven by other schools. For families in this zip code, Centerville Elementary currently offers the stronger academic environment, though both schools provide favorable class sizes and a solid foundation within a well-regarded district.
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