Summary:
Zip code 29180 in Winnsboro, SC, is served by six schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one charter school—enrolling roughly 2,041 students across two districts: Fairfield 01 and the Charter Institute at Erskine.
The standout in this area is Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science, ranked 22nd of 649 elementary schools in the state (97th percentile, 5 stars) with exceptional test scores—88.5% proficiency in 3rd grade ELA and 88.4% in math—and remarkably low chronic absenteeism at just 6.1%. At the other end, Fairfield Elementary ranks 626th of 649 (4th percentile, 0 stars) with 6th grade math proficiency at just 8.5% and chronic absenteeism at 22.4%. Kelly Miller Elementary sits in the middle with solid 3rd grade ELA (81%) but weaker math (42.8%). Fairfield Middle shows a sharp drop-off in math (21.4% in 7th grade) despite a low 8.6:1 student-teacher ratio, while Midlands STEM Charter School has the highest chronic absenteeism (30.1%) and lowest spending ($14,270 per student) but still outperforms Fairfield Elementary in most subjects. Fairfield Central High shows positive momentum, improving its state ranking from 157th to 91st, with an 82.8% graduation rate and a dropout rate of just 1.1%.
Math is the universal weakness across all schools, with proficiency lagging ELA by 20-40 percentage points in most grades. Spending does not predict outcomes—Fairfield Elementary spends nearly $21,000 per student yet ranks near the bottom, while the Magnet school achieves top results with similar funding. Chronic absenteeism is the clearest differentiator: schools with lower absenteeism consistently outperform those with higher rates. The middle school years represent a critical drop-off point, particularly in math, suggesting targeted interventions in both math instruction and attendance could yield significant improvements across the district.
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