Schools in Zip Code 29351

Zip code 29351 in Joanna, South Carolina, is served by a single elementary school, Joanna-Woodson Elementary, which educates 293 students in grades K-5 within the Laurens 56 school district.

For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Joanna-Woodson Elementary is currently facing significant academic challenges, particularly in the 4th grade. The school’s state ranking has declined sharply over the past three years, falling from the 52nd percentile to the 27th percentile, resulting in a 1-star rating. The most alarming data point is the 4th grade math proficiency rate, which sits at just 22%—a staggering 30 percentage points below the state average and a 27-point drop from the previous year. Similarly, 4th grade ELA proficiency fell by 21 points to 40.7%. This dramatic decline suggests a particularly difficult cohort or a potential issue with instruction at that grade level. On a more positive note, 5th grade students are performing relatively well, with ELA proficiency at 60% (nearly matching the state average) and math proficiency at 46%, which actually exceeds the district average. The school also boasts a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.2:1 and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 14.5%, which is significantly better than both the district (20.4%) and state (22.3%) averages.

Despite spending a substantial $17,683 per student, academic outcomes lag the state in most subjects and grade levels. The school’s low ranking appears to be driven primarily by the 4th grade math collapse rather than systemic underperformance across all grades. The strong 5th grade results and low absenteeism suggest the school retains foundational strengths, but the steep decline in 4th grade scores—and the overall downward ranking trend—indicate that parents should closely monitor grade-level performance and ask the school about intervention strategies for struggling students. The school is clearly in a period of transition, and while there are bright spots, the current trajectory warrants careful attention.