Summary:
Zip code 29445, encompassing the Goose Creek and Ladson areas of South Carolina, is home to four middle schools serving grades 6-8 within the Berkeley 01 school district, which ranks in the 59th percentile statewide.
Families in this area will find a dramatic range of academic performance among the four schools. Marrington Middle School of the Arts is the clear standout, ranking 24th in the state (93rd percentile) and earning a 5-star rating. It outperforms its neighbors by 20-30 percentage points in nearly every subject, with 78.7% ELA proficiency and 60.9% math proficiency. At the other end, Sedgefield Middle struggles significantly, ranking in the 12th percentile with just 42.3% ELA and 17.8% math proficiency. Westview Middle serves as a consistent mid-tier option (52nd percentile, 3 stars), while Sangaree Middle shows promising improvement, climbing from the 25th to 39th percentile over three years. Notably, all four schools exceed state averages on the Algebra 1 end-of-course exam, with Marrington achieving a perfect 100% pass rate.
Chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with performance: Marrington's rate is just 10%, while Sedgefield's is a concerning 32.2%. Per-student spending does not predict success, as Westview spends the least ($12,711) yet outperforms Sedgefield, which spends more ($13,088). Marrington, the smallest school (432 students), also spends the most ($14,944) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio. For parents, the choice is clear: Marrington offers exceptional academics and attendance, while Sedgefield requires targeted intervention, particularly around attendance and foundational math skills. Westview and Sangaree provide solid, improving options in between.
Thank you for your feedback!