Summary:
Zip code 29073 in Lexington, SC is home to 6 elementary schools serving grades PK-5, all part of the highly-rated Lexington 01 school district, which ranks in the 81st percentile statewide.
For parents, the standout choice is Carolina Springs Elementary, which leads the area with a 4-star rating and a remarkable 81st percentile state ranking—up from the 54th percentile just two years ago. Despite having the smallest enrollment (438 students) and the lowest per-student spending ($14,004), it posts the highest test scores, including 83.4% proficiency in 3rd-grade math versus a 59.2% state average. At the other end, Red Bank Elementary has declined from the 59th to 45th percentile over two years, losing its 3-star rating and now showing 22.7% chronic absenteeism. South Lake Elementary (55th percentile) and Deerfield Elementary (53rd percentile) sit in the middle, with Deerfield boasting the best attendance culture at just 14.9% chronic absenteeism. Saxe Gotha Elementary (51st percentile) and Oak Grove Elementary (49th percentile) round out the lower tier, with Saxe Gotha showing dramatic year-over-year swings in test scores.
Two critical takeaways emerge. First, spending does not predict success—Saxe Gotha spends the most per student ($18,479) yet ranks near the bottom, while Carolina Springs spends the least and excels. Second, there is a consistent 4th-grade math dip across all schools, with proficiency dropping sharply from 3rd grade (e.g., Deerfield falls from 61.3% to 41.9%), suggesting a curriculum transition challenge. Additionally, math proficiency lags ELA significantly in upper grades, with Red Bank showing a 30.7-point gap in 5th grade. Interestingly, Carolina Springs has the highest chronic absenteeism (23.8%) yet still achieves top results, challenging assumptions about attendance driving performance. The district should study Carolina Springs' practices and address the systemic math decline to lift all schools.
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