Summary:
Zip code 29456 in Ladson, South Carolina is served by four elementary schools spanning three different school districts—Charleston 01, Dorchester 02, and Berkeley 01—collectively enrolling 3,081 students in grades PK-5, with individual school sizes ranging from 649 to 907 students.
There is a dramatic performance gap between schools in this area. Joseph R. Pye Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 82nd percentile statewide (119 of 649) with 4 stars. Its average ELA proficiency is 76.5% and math proficiency is 68.3%, far exceeding state averages of roughly 64.4% and 53.5%, respectively. At the other end, Ladson Elementary ranks in the 7th percentile (604 of 649) with 0 stars, posting average ELA proficiency of just 40.5% and math proficiency of 24.7%—less than half the state average in math. In between, Oakbrook Elementary (34th percentile, 2 stars) and College Park Elementary (16th percentile, 1 star) sit in the middle and lower ranges. Notably, the two Dorchester 02 schools outperform the Charleston 01 and Berkeley 01 schools despite similar student-teacher ratios.
Chronic absenteeism shows a near-perfect inverse relationship with performance: Joseph R. Pye has the lowest rate at 15.8%, while Ladson has the highest at 30.2% (state average is 22.3%). A spending paradox exists as well—Ladson spends $19,704 per student, 51% more than Joseph R. Pye's $13,007, yet achieves far lower outcomes. Math proficiency is the biggest challenge across all schools, with Ladson falling below 30% in every grade. For parents, this zip code offers starkly different educational experiences depending on which district boundary a home falls within, making school choice a critical factor in academic outcomes.
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