Summary:
In zip code 29114, there is exactly one elementary school, Olanta Elementary, a small rural school serving grades PK through 6 with 198 students in the Florence 03 district.
For parents considering this area, Olanta Elementary presents a mixed picture. On one hand, the school invests heavily in its students, spending $19,474 per pupil and maintaining a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6. On the other hand, academic outcomes are concerning. The school ranks 535th out of 649 elementary schools in South Carolina, placing it in the bottom 18th percentile with a 1-star rating. Test scores in 2025-2026 show all grades below state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics, with 4th-grade science proficiency at just 24% compared to the state's 51.6%. The most alarming statistic is the chronic absenteeism rate of 32.8% for the 2024-2025 school year, far exceeding both the district average of 22.5% and the state average of 22.3%.
There are a few notable takeaways. First, the school's state ranking has dropped sharply over three years, from 465th to 535th, indicating a negative trend. Second, there is a bright spot in 4th-grade math, where proficiency reached 48% in 2025-2026, outperforming the district's 34.2% and nearly matching the state's 52.3%. Third, performance varies widely by grade, with 4th-grade ELA proficiency at 56% versus just 31.8% in 3rd grade, suggesting that individual teachers or grade-level strategies may be driving success rather than a school-wide approach. Ultimately, the high spending and low student-teacher ratio are not translating into academic gains, and the chronic absenteeism issue is likely a major barrier to improvement. Parents should weigh these factors carefully when evaluating this school.
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