Summary:
Zip code 29385 in Wellford, SC, is served by a single elementary school, Wellford Academy of Science and Technology, which enrolls 654 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Spartanburg 05 school district.
For parents considering this area, Wellford Academy of Science and Technology is a school on the rise. It improved its state ranking dramatically, jumping from a 2-star rating (376th of 640 schools) in 2024-2025 to a 3-star rating (309th of 649 schools) in 2025-2026, moving from the 41st to the 52nd percentile. The school’s biggest strength is in 3rd-grade mathematics, where 71.5% of students are proficient, outpacing both the district (69.5%) and the state (59.2%). It also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.1:1 and spends $15,229 per student, which is above average. Chronic absenteeism (18.2%) is better than both the district (19.1%) and state (22.3%) averages, suggesting good attendance habits.
However, there are notable patterns to be aware of. The school shows a clear "3rd-grade peak" followed by a "4th-grade slump." In 2025-2026, 3rd-grade math proficiency (71.5%) was 28.3 points higher than 4th-grade math (43.2%), and 3rd-grade ELA (64.7%) was 10.7 points higher than 4th-grade ELA (54%). This pattern held in the prior year as well, indicating a possible transition issue between grade levels. The current 4th graders were a lower-performing cohort in 3rd grade, and while their ELA improved significantly (from 38.4% to 54%), their math slightly declined. Science is a relative weakness, with only 37.2% of 4th graders proficient, trailing the district (52%) and state (51.6%) by nearly 15 points. The explosive 26-point gains in 3rd-grade ELA and math suggest effective interventions, but parents should watch how these gains hold as students advance to 4th grade.
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