Summary:
In zip code 29330, there is just one elementary school, Cowpens Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 with an enrollment of 460 students as part of the highly-rated Spartanburg 03 district.
Cowpens Elementary is a solid, mid-tier school with a consistent 3-star rating over the past three years, though its state percentile ranking has improved from the 61st to the 65th percentile. The school’s biggest strength is in 5th grade, where students significantly outperform both the district and state averages. In the most recent year, 69.4% of 5th graders were proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and 63.9% were proficient in math, compared to state averages of 63.6% and 49.1%, respectively. However, 4th grade is a clear weak spot, particularly in math (54.4% proficiency vs. the district’s 65.8%) and science (51.4% proficiency, roughly at the state average). This creates a notable performance gap between the two grade levels, suggesting either a highly effective 5th-grade team or a challenging transition into 4th grade.
On the resource side, the school invests heavily in its students, spending $14,648 per pupil and maintaining a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.4:1. Yet, chronic absenteeism stands at 24.7%, which is higher than the state average of 22.3% and affects nearly a quarter of the student body. This disconnect between strong funding and attendance is a key concern, as missing school can undermine the benefits of smaller classes and higher spending. Overall, Cowpens Elementary offers strong upper-grade academics and a supportive learning environment, but parents should be aware of the 4th-grade dip and the absenteeism challenge when considering this school.
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