Summary:
Zip code 29565 is home to a single elementary school, Latta Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 and enrolls 721 students in the Latta, SC area.
Latta Elementary is the only elementary option in this zip code, and its performance essentially defines the elementary benchmark for the Dillon 03 district, as its test scores exactly match district averages across all subjects and grades. The school has shown improvement in its state ranking, moving from the 50th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 53rd percentile in 2025-2026, though it dipped to the 43rd percentile in between. The most notable pattern is a dramatic grade-level divergence: in the 2025-2026 school year, 3rd and 4th graders performed well above state averages in both ELA and Math, while 5th graders fell significantly below state averages. For example, 3rd grade math proficiency reached 65.6% (compared to the state's 59.2%), but 5th grade math dropped to just 39.8% (versus the state's 49.1%). Similarly, 5th grade ELA proficiency was 51.3% versus the state's 63.6%. This "early strength, later weakness" pattern suggests a possible cohort effect or instructional discontinuity as students advance.
Year-over-year data reveals significant volatility, with 3rd grade math improving by an impressive 27.3 percentage points while 5th grade math declined by 12.9 points in the same period. On a positive note, the school maintains a chronic absenteeism rate of 15.9%, which is better than both the district (18.2%) and state (22.3%) averages. Per-student spending is $13,812, and the student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. For parents, the key takeaway is that Latta Elementary provides a strong foundation in the early grades, but families should be aware of the significant drop-off in 5th grade performance, particularly in math, which may warrant additional support or attention as their child approaches that grade level.
Thank you for your feedback!