Summary:
Zip code 29588 in the Myrtle Beach, SC area is served by four elementary schools within the Horry 01 school district, a highly-rated district (88th percentile statewide) that collectively educates nearly 3,000 students across grades PK-4 or PK-5.
For parents, the standout choice is St. James Elementary, which is the clear academic leader in the area. It holds a 5-star rating and ranks in the 90th percentile statewide, with 4th grade ELA proficiency at 86.7% and 3rd grade math at 77.5%—both far exceeding district averages. Notably, St. James achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending ($12,592) and the highest student-teacher ratio (15.9:1), proving that efficiency and excellence can go hand-in-hand. Meanwhile, Burgess Elementary is the area's "rising star," having jumped 43 spots in state rankings and improving 3rd grade math by 10.4 percentage points in a single year. It also boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (11.2%) in the group. Socastee Elementary offers a solid mid-tier option, showing strong growth between 3rd and 4th grade, particularly in math where 4th graders hit 69.5% proficiency—well above the district average of 56.9%.
On the other end, Palmetto Bays Elementary is a concern, having dropped from a 3-star to a 2-star rating and sliding to the 48th percentile. Its 4th grade math proficiency (43.2%) is the weakest metric in the zip code, and it spends the most per student ($15,549) while getting the least academic return. Across all four schools, chronic absenteeism is a non-issue—every school is well below both district and state averages. The biggest takeaway for parents is that spending does not predict success here; school-level factors like instruction and culture matter far more. If you're choosing a school, St. James is the proven top performer, Burgess is trending up fast, and Palmetto Bays may warrant extra scrutiny, especially around math support.
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