Summary:
Zip code 29115 in Orangeburg, SC, is home to 2 middle schools serving grades 6-8 within the Orangeburg school district, which holds a 1-star rating and ranks 63rd out of 75 districts in the state.
For parents comparing the two schools, Robert E. Howard Middle is the stronger academic performer overall. It ranks 264th in the state versus William J. Clark Middle's 302nd, and it leads in nearly every subject. The most dramatic gap is in 8th grade math, where Howard posts 21.8% proficiency compared to Clark's 7.2%. Howard also excels in Algebra 1, with an exceptional 91.67% proficiency rate—well above the state average of 73.95%—while Clark still impresses at 76.6%. In ELA, Howard outperforms Clark in 7th and 8th grades by 3.8 and 13.7 percentage points, respectively. Clark does show a promising turnaround in its most recent data, with 8th grade math jumping from 7.2% to 16.6% and 8th grade ELA rising to 41%, nearly matching the district average.
Both schools face a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism, with rates of 34.7% at Clark and 32.7% at Howard—both far exceeding the state average of 22.3%. Interestingly, Clark actually spends more per student ($15,460 vs. $14,620) despite lower test scores, suggesting resource allocation matters more than raw spending. Howard has shown steady improvement in state rankings over three years, while Clark's ranking has fluctuated. For parents, Howard offers more consistent, higher achievement, especially in math, but Clark's recent gains suggest it may be closing the gap. Addressing absenteeism at both schools could be the most impactful strategy for improving outcomes across the board.
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