Summary:
Zip code 29061 in Hopkins, South Carolina, is served by five schools in the Richland 01 school district, including two elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school, enrolling nearly 3,000 students total.
There is a stark contrast between the standout elementary school and the struggling high school in this area. Hopkins Elementary is the clear outperformer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 59th percentile statewide, despite the district's overall 1-star rating. Its 3rd-grade math proficiency rate of 78.1% is nearly double the district average and well above the state average. In contrast, Lower Richland High has dropped to the 8th percentile with a 0-star rating, and its proficiency rates in English 1 and U.S. History are roughly half the state averages. The middle schools, Southeast Middle and Hopkins Middle, both struggle significantly in math, with 7th-grade proficiency rates between 14.5% and 20%, compared to the state average of 41.8%. Horrell Hill Elementary also lags behind Hopkins Elementary in every subject and grade level tested.
Several key factors stand out for parents. First, chronic absenteeism is a major concern at the secondary level, with Hopkins Middle at 33.7% and Lower Richland High at 32.9%, both significantly above the state average of 22.3%. Second, there is a spending paradox: Hopkins Elementary receives the highest per-student funding ($27,792) and performs best, while Lower Richland High receives the least ($17,494) and performs worst. Finally, the high school's graduation rate of 81.6% and dropout rate of 4.0% are both worse than state averages, suggesting students may be entering high school underprepared. While Hopkins Elementary proves high achievement is possible in this district, the overall picture shows urgent needs for intervention in middle school math and high school readiness.
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