Summary:
Zip code 29067 in Kershaw, South Carolina, is served by two elementary schools—Kershaw Elementary and North Central Elementary—both covering grades PK-5 with nearly identical enrollments of about 510 students each, yet belonging to different districts (Lancaster 01 and Kershaw 01), which makes for a unique cross-district comparison.
For parents, the standout story is North Central Elementary, which has surged from a 2-star to a 4-star rating, jumping from 338th to 174th in the state in just two years. It now outperforms Kershaw Elementary in overall ranking (174th vs. 213th) and dominates in upper grades: its 4th-grade science proficiency (74.7%) is 27 points higher than Kershaw's, and its 4th-grade math (78.3%) and 5th-grade ELA (74.3%) are both well above state averages. However, Kershaw Elementary offers a strong, consistent 3-star profile with better early-grade results—3rd-grade ELA (69.3%) and math (70.6%) exceed North Central's—and a slightly better student-teacher ratio (14.0 vs. 14.9) with marginally higher per-student spending ($13,903 vs. $13,728).
Both schools share a notable weakness: chronic absenteeism is high (26.5% at Kershaw, 24.6% at North Central) versus the state's 22.3%, yet North Central still achieves strong academics despite this challenge. Math is a clear strength across both schools, with every grade-level score exceeding state averages. The main concern is Kershaw Elementary's 4th-grade science (47.7%), the only subject below the state average, and year-to-year volatility in small cohorts—Kershaw's 5th-grade math dropped 11.8 points in one year. Ultimately, parents choosing between these schools should weigh North Central's rapid improvement and upper-grade excellence against Kershaw's steadier early-grade foundation.
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