Summary:
Zip code 29340 in Gaffney, SC is home to 2 middle schools serving grades 6-8, both part of the Cherokee 01 school district, which ranks in the bottom quartile of South Carolina districts.
For parents comparing the two schools, John E. Ewing Middle stands out as the academic overachiever despite its smaller size (380 students). Ewing dramatically outperforms both the district and state averages on the Algebra EOCEP exam with a 95.24% proficiency rate, and it has shown stronger math scores in 6th and 8th grades compared to Gaffney Middle. Ewing also improved its state ranking by 22 positions over the past two years and spends 12% more per student ($5,028 vs. $4,488). However, Ewing faces a serious challenge with a 35.3% chronic absenteeism rate—58% higher than the district average and significantly worse than Gaffney's 23.0%. Gaffney Middle, with 851 students, offers more consistent English Language Arts scores across all grades (44-44.8%) and serves more than double the student population, but its math and science outcomes lag behind Ewing's.
The most encouraging finding is the dramatic year-over-year improvement in 8th grade mathematics at both schools, with gains of nearly 17 percentage points each. Both schools also show exceptional Algebra performance that far exceeds their general math proficiency, suggesting strong differentiation for advanced learners. Ewing's 6th grade science proficiency (41.1%) is 9.2 points higher than Gaffney's, representing the largest single-subject gap between the two schools. While both schools remain below state averages in most subjects, the significant math improvements and Ewing's strong advanced math performance suggest recent interventions may be taking effect. The high chronic absenteeism at Ewing remains the greatest barrier to that school's continued academic growth.
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