Summary:
Zip code 29067 in Kershaw, South Carolina, is served by two middle schools—Andrew Jackson Middle and North Central Middle—both covering grades 6-8 and belonging to different districts (Lancaster 01 and Kershaw 01, respectively), which makes for an interesting comparison of two schools in the same area but under different leadership.
Overall, Andrew Jackson Middle is the stronger performer, ranking #169 of 335 schools statewide (3 stars) versus North Central Middle’s #211 ranking (2 stars). Andrew Jackson beats North Central in most math and English Language Arts (ELA) categories, especially in 8th-grade math where it scores 50.9% proficiency versus North Central’s 23.5%—a 27-point gap. Andrew Jackson also has a better district context, with Lancaster 01 ranking #23 of 75 districts (4 stars) compared to Kershaw 01’s #27 ranking (3 stars). However, North Central has some bright spots: it posts near-perfect Algebra 1 EOCEP scores (99.99% proficiency) and maintains a lower student-to-teacher ratio (12.3:1 vs. 14.9:1), though it spends slightly more per student ($14,061 vs. $13,329) without seeing proportional gains in test scores.
The most pressing issue for both schools is chronic absenteeism, which is well above state averages. North Central Middle has a particularly high rate at 32.2% (state: 22.3%), while Andrew Jackson Middle sits at 24.8%. This likely contributes to North Central’s lower overall performance despite its resource advantages. Both schools also show year-to-year volatility in scores, suggesting cohort changes rather than consistent instructional trends. For parents, Andrew Jackson offers stronger academics overall, but North Central’s advanced math pathway is exceptional—and both schools would benefit from addressing attendance to unlock their full potential.
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