Summary:
Zip code 29115 in Orangeburg, SC, is served by 7 schools—5 elementary, 2 middle, and no high schools—with a total enrollment of 2,391 students across the Orangeburg district and the Charter Institute at Erskine.
For parents, the standout elementary school is Whittaker Elementary, which posts the best overall ranking in the zip code (25th percentile) and leads in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade ELA proficiency at 50% or higher. Its 3rd grade ELA jumped an impressive 28 percentage points in one year, though 4th grade math dipped, suggesting some volatility. Brookdale Elementary is the most improved in math, with 51.7% 3rd grade proficiency and the lowest chronic absenteeism (18.7%)—better than both the district and state averages. At the middle school level, Robert E. Howard Middle shines in Algebra, with 91.67% EOCEP proficiency, far exceeding district and state rates, and it ranks higher than William J. Clark Middle. On the other end, Mellichamp Elementary ranks near the bottom statewide (642nd of 649) despite spending the most per student ($25,614), while Willie Jeffries School of Excellence, a charter, also struggles with math proficiency as low as 2.1% in 6th grade.
Overall, most schools here trail state averages, especially in science and 5th grade math. Chronic absenteeism is a major issue—five of six schools exceed the state rate, with Whittaker at 37.7%. The absence of a local high school adds transition challenges. However, pockets of strength exist: Brookdale manages attendance well, and both middle schools excel in advanced math, suggesting that targeted support in early grades and attendance could lift outcomes across the area.
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