Summary:
Zip code 29316 in Boiling Springs, SC, is home to four elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within the highly-rated Spartanburg 02 school district, which ranks in the 91st percentile statewide.
For families in this area, Sugar Ridge Elementary stands out as the academic leader, holding the highest state ranking (183rd) and the only 4-star rating among the group. It exceeds district averages in 10 of 14 test categories and leads in 4th and 5th grade English Language Arts, with 5th-grade proficiency nearly 13 points above the state average. In contrast, Boiling Springs Elementary has shown a dramatic decline, dropping from the 74th to the 48th percentile in two years, with notable weaknesses in 4th-grade math (44.1% vs. district's 59.4%) and ELA (50.8% vs. district's 71.4%). Shoally Creek Elementary and James H. Hendrix Elementary fall in between, with Hendrix spending the most per student ($13,888) yet ranking lowest, suggesting higher spending doesn't guarantee better outcomes. Chronic absenteeism is below the state average at all four schools, with Hendrix best at 13.1% and Shoally Creek worst at 19.8%.
A key concern across all schools is the consistent decline in math proficiency from 3rd to 5th grade—at Hendrix, it drops from 62.3% to 38.7%, a 23.6-point gap. This pattern suggests a systemic challenge in upper elementary math instruction. Year-to-year volatility is also common, with some schools swinging 15-17 points in specific subjects, likely reflecting changing student cohorts. Despite these issues, all four schools benefit from being in a top-tier district, and even the lowest-ranked school outperforms the majority of elementary schools statewide. Families should weigh Sugar Ridge's consistent excellence against Boiling Springs' downward trend, while noting that all schools provide a solid educational foundation within a strong district.
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