Summary:
Zip code 29579, serving the Carolina Forest and Forestbrook communities near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is home to 8 schools within the Horry 01 district, enrolling roughly 10,259 students across five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school, plus a K-8 charter.
Families in this area have access to several standout schools. Ocean Bay Middle is the academic powerhouse, ranking 30th of 335 middle schools statewide (91st percentile, 5 stars) with a perfect 100% proficiency on the Algebra 1 EOCEP and 8th grade math scores 27 points above the state average. Its counterpart, Ten Oaks Middle, is also strong at the 87th percentile but serves a larger student body of 1,264. Among elementary schools, River Oaks Elementary is the most improved, jumping 81 positions to the 92nd percentile with 5 stars, while Carolina Forest Elementary (75th percentile) and Forestbrook Elementary (82nd percentile) remain solid options. However, Ocean Bay Elementary has declined from the 92nd to the 81st percentile over two years, with notable drops in 4th grade math and science. Carolina Forest High ranks in the 81st percentile but shows warning signs with a 3.2% dropout rate and 23% chronic absenteeism, both above state averages.
Chronic absenteeism is a clear strength here, with every school except the high school beating the state average of 22.3% by at least 5 points. Spending varies widely, from Bridgewater Academy Charter at $19,311 per student (with a 6.9:1 ratio but no recent ranking data) to Ocean Bay Elementary at $11,760, yet higher spending doesn't guarantee better results. A persistent challenge across all elementary schools is math proficiency lagging behind ELA, with 5th grade math ranging from 54.6% to 69.2% versus 72.3% to 83.1% for ELA. Overall, this is a high-performing community where all ranked schools sit at or above the 75th percentile, making it a strong choice for families prioritizing academic excellence.
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