Best Public Schools in Zip Code 29404

Zip code 29404 is home to two elementary schools—Hunley Park Elementary and Minnie Hughes Elementary—both serving grades PK-5 within the well-regarded Charleston 01 district, with no middle or high schools in the immediate area, meaning students must transition elsewhere after 5th grade.

These two schools offer very different experiences. Hunley Park Elementary is the larger of the two, with 487 students and a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It posts stronger state rankings and more consistent test scores, particularly in 3rd grade math where 48.2% of students are proficient. However, it struggles with chronic absenteeism at 25.8%, well above district and state averages. In contrast, Minnie Hughes Elementary is a smaller, more intimate school with 174 students and a lower 10.6:1 ratio. It spends a remarkable $42,121 per student—71% more than Hunley Park—yet ranks lower and shows volatile test performance, likely due to its small cohort sizes. Its chronic absenteeism is much healthier at 13.3%.

Both schools significantly trail the Charleston 01 district averages across nearly all subjects. The gap is starkest in math: Hunley Park's 4th grade proficiency is 31.2% versus the district's 60.6%, while Minnie Hughes' 3rd grade math sits at 29.6% versus 68.3%. The spending paradox is notable—Minnie Hughes spends far more per student but achieves less, suggesting possible inefficiencies or the impact of its small size. For parents, Hunley Park offers more stability and better rankings, while Minnie Hughes provides smaller classes and better attendance, but both face significant academic challenges compared to the district overall.