Summary:
Zip code 29483 in Summerville, South Carolina, is home to four public middle schools serving grades 6-8 within the Dorchester 02 school district, which ranks in the top 30% of districts statewide.
Rollings Middle School of the Arts is the clear standout, ranking 6th out of 335 schools in South Carolina with a 5-star rating. Its test scores are dramatically higher than its peers—average math proficiency is 84.2% compared to roughly 39% at both Gregg Middle and Alston Middle. Rollings also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at just 11.7%, less than half that of the other three schools, which all exceed 30%. Charles B. DuBose Middle is the next strongest performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 92nd, with particular strength in 8th-grade math (58.9% proficiency) and a perfect 100% pass rate on the Algebra 1 EOCEP exam. Gregg Middle (3 stars, ranked 150th) and Alston Middle (2 stars, ranked 192nd) lag behind, with Alston showing the highest chronic absenteeism (33.4%) and the lowest test scores across most subjects.
Notably, per-student spending shows an inverse relationship with performance—Alston spends the most ($13,300 per student) yet ranks lowest, while Rollings spends the least ($11,767) and ranks highest. All four schools achieve excellent Algebra 1 EOCEP pass rates (96-100%), well above state averages, suggesting strong preparation for advanced math students. Several schools also showed significant year-over-year improvements in 8th-grade math, with Alston jumping 21.3 points and Gregg 13.3 points. For families, the choice is stark: Rollings offers an exceptional, highly engaging educational experience, while DuBose provides solid, improving performance. Gregg and Alston face challenges with attendance and math proficiency, though recent gains offer some optimism.
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