Summary:
Zip code 29384 in Waterloo, SC is served by a single elementary school, Waterloo Elementary, which enrolls 254 students in grades Pre-K through 5th grade within the Laurens 55 school district.
For parents considering this area, Waterloo Elementary stands out as a high-performing school despite its district's overall low state ranking (20th percentile). The school dramatically outperforms district averages in nearly every subject and grade level. In the most recent school year, 4th grade students achieved 87.1% proficiency in English Language Arts and 83.9% in math, compared to district averages of 53.1% and 42.8% respectively. Fifth graders also excelled, with 78.3% ELA proficiency and 65.2% math proficiency, both well above state averages. The school maintains an excellent 8.5:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $17,444 per student, indicating strong resource allocation. Chronic absenteeism is notably low at 11.0%, far below the district's 17.7% and the state's 22.3% averages, suggesting high student engagement and family involvement.
However, parents should be aware of significant year-to-year performance volatility, likely due to small class sizes. For example, 3rd grade ELA proficiency dropped from 88.6% to 53.8% between school years, while 5th grade math jumped from 20.8% to 65.2%. This instability means individual student performance can heavily influence school-wide percentages, making single-year data less reliable. The school's upward trajectory in state rankings (from 60th to 65th percentile over three years) and its recent strength in upper elementary grades suggest positive momentum. While socioeconomic data is unavailable, the school's consistent outperformance of its district peers indicates that Waterloo Elementary provides a quality education option within the Laurens 55 district.
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