Summary:
Zip code 29576 in Murrells Inlet, SC, is served by a single high school, St. James High, which enrolls approximately 1,826 students in grades 9-12 and is part of the Horry 01 school district.
St. James High is an academic powerhouse, consistently earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 90th percentile statewide (25th out of 245 schools). Its graduation rate of 91.5% outpaces both the district (89.6%) and state (86.7%) averages, while its dropout rate of just 0.8% is less than half the district rate. The school's standardized test scores are exceptional, with 97.06% of students proficient in Algebra 1 compared to the state average of 64.58%, and similarly strong results in English 1 (83.7% vs. 60.91%), English 2 (92.79% vs. 83.79%), and U.S. History (78.02% vs. 62.57%). This performance has been remarkably stable over the past three years, with the school's state ranking hovering between 23rd and 25th place, indicating a sustainable culture of high achievement.
The most notable concern is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 24.4%—higher than both the district (19.4%) and state (22.3%) averages. This creates an interesting paradox: while attending students perform at elite levels, a substantial portion of the student body is missing significant school days, which could pose a future risk. The school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 17.5:1 and spends $13,791 per student, suggesting adequate resources for advanced courses and support staff. For parents, St. James High offers top-tier academics, strong graduation outcomes, and a safe, supportive environment—though the absenteeism rate is worth monitoring as a potential area for improvement.
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