Summary:
Zip code 29178 in Whitmire, SC is served by two schools within the Newberry 01 school district, which together educate roughly 514 students in a small, rural community setting.
The standout in this area is Whitmire Community School (High), which serves grades 6-12 and is a clear academic leader. It boasts an exceptional 97% graduation rate and a perfect 0% dropout rate, far surpassing district and state averages. The school is ranked 71st out of 245 high schools in South Carolina (4 stars) and outperforms state averages in most subjects, including English 1, U.S. History, and 6th-grade science. In contrast, Whitmire Community School (Elementary) serves grades PK-5 and is a solid, though less distinguished, performer. Its ranking has declined from the 68th to the 46th percentile over three years, despite relatively stable test scores, indicating other schools are improving faster. The elementary school's main weakness is math, with 4th-grade math proficiency at 38.5% versus the state's 52.3%, though it shows a notable strength in 4th-grade science.
Both schools share a campus and benefit from small class sizes (student-teacher ratios of 11.5:1 and 12.6:1). The high school also invests significantly more per student ($19,989) than the elementary school ($14,884). A key concern is the high school's chronic absenteeism rate of 30.7%, which is dramatically higher than the state average of 22.3% and presents a hidden challenge despite strong academic outcomes. For parents, this data suggests that Whitmire Community School (High) offers a high-quality secondary education that punches well above its district's weight, while the elementary school provides a solid foundation, though families may want to provide extra support in elementary math.
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