Summary:
Zip code 29576, serving the Murrells Inlet area of South Carolina, is home to just one elementary school, Seaside Elementary, which serves grades PK through 4th grade within the Horry 01 school district.
Seaside Elementary is a high-performing school that consistently beats both district and state averages in every subject and grade level tested. For the 2025-2026 school year, the school posted strong proficiency rates, including 84.1% in 4th grade ELA (nearly 19 points above the state average), 73.2% in 3rd grade ELA, and 67.6% in 3rd grade math. The school also maintains a favorable 12.4:1 student-to-teacher ratio and spends $16,330 per student, indicating strong resource allocation. Chronic absenteeism is notably low at 14.1%, compared to 19.4% for the district and 22.3% for the state, which likely supports the school's academic success. While the school has maintained a 4-star rating for three consecutive years, its state percentile ranking has slipped slightly from the 88th to the 81st percentile, even as the total number of schools in the state has grown.
Year-over-year results show a mixed picture. While 3rd grade ELA and math proficiency declined from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, 4th grade ELA improved by 8 points and 4th grade science improved by nearly 5 points, suggesting changes may be cohort-specific rather than systemic. Science proficiency (63.4%) remains the school's relative weakness compared to ELA and math, though it still exceeds state averages. With only one elementary school serving this zip code, families have no school choice within their immediate area, making Seaside Elementary's strong performance particularly important for the community. Overall, this is a well-resourced, high-achieving school that offers a personalized learning environment, though recent ranking trends and some proficiency declines are worth monitoring.
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