Summary:
Zip code 29379 in Union, SC, is served by two elementary schools—Monarch Elementary and Foster Park Elementary—both covering grades PK-5 within the Union 01 school district, which is currently ranked in the 15th percentile statewide.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that these two schools offer very different experiences despite being similar in size (442 vs. 430 students). Monarch Elementary is the clear academic leader. In 4th grade math, Monarch’s proficiency rate of 70.8% is more than double Foster Park’s 27.9%, and it even exceeds the state average of 52.3%. Monarch also posts a much healthier chronic absenteeism rate of 13.9% compared to Foster Park’s 25.1%, which is above the state average of 22.3%. Foster Park, by contrast, ranks in the 6th percentile statewide (0 stars) and struggles across most subjects—its 4th grade science proficiency is just 13.2%, a staggering 38 points below the state average. Interestingly, Foster Park actually spends more per student ($16,083 vs. $13,860 at Monarch), yet this higher spending has not translated into better outcomes, suggesting that resources alone aren’t the answer.
One notable exception to Monarch’s dominance is 5th grade math, where Foster Park outperforms Monarch (31.3% vs. 25.4%). This is a sharp drop for Monarch, which had a 48.9% proficiency rate the prior year, highlighting how volatile year-to-year scores can be in small schools. Both schools face challenges in science relative to the state, and the district as a whole underperforms. For parents, Monarch Elementary is the stronger choice academically, but it’s worth monitoring its 5th grade math trend. Foster Park Elementary may offer more individualized attention given its lower student-teacher ratio, but its attendance and proficiency gaps are significant concerns to weigh carefully.
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