Summary:
Zip code 29148 is home to a single high school, Scott's Branch High, which serves grades 9-12 in the rural community of Summerton, South Carolina, within the Clarendon 06 school district.
For parents, the most striking feature of Scott's Branch High is its exceptional 98% graduation rate, far outpacing the state average of 86.7%. This is paired with a very small student body of just 197 students and a favorable 12.1:1 student-to-teacher ratio, which suggests a close-knit environment where students can get significant individual attention. The school also invests heavily in its students, spending $23,899 per pupil annually. However, this investment and high graduation rate stand in contrast to the school's academic performance. Proficiency rates on state exams lag behind state averages in every subject, with U.S. History at just 30.44% proficient compared to the state's 62.57%. A major concern is the chronic absenteeism rate of 37%, which is nearly 15 points higher than the state average and likely a key factor in the academic struggles.
On a more positive note, the school is showing signs of improvement. From the 2024-2025 to the 2025-2026 school year, proficiency in Algebra 1 jumped by over 15 points to 57.45%, and English 2 improved by over 13 points to 73.81%, which is now close to the state average. While the school's overall ranking remains low, it has improved from the 3rd percentile to the 15th percentile and earned its first star in the state's rating system. This upward trajectory, combined with the strong graduation rate, suggests that while there are significant challenges, Scott's Branch High may be on a path toward better outcomes for its students.
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