Summary:
Zip code 29624 in Anderson, SC is home to two elementary schools—Flat Rock Elementary and Homeland Park Primary—serving roughly 826 students in grades PK-5 across two different districts, Anderson 03 and Anderson 05.
These two schools offer very different experiences despite sharing a zip code. Flat Rock Elementary (grades PK-5, 429 students) is the clear academic leader, with its district Anderson 03 earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 93rd percentile statewide. In the most recent testing year, Flat Rock outperformed state averages in 4th-grade ELA (73% vs. 65.4%), 4th-grade math (60.3% vs. 52.3%), 5th-grade math (55.4% vs. 49.1%), and 4th-grade science (69.8% vs. 51.6%). However, the school saw significant year-over-year drops in 3rd-grade scores—down 14.6 points in ELA and 14.7 points in math—which parents may want to investigate. By contrast, Homeland Park Primary (grades PK-2, 397 students) has no recent academic data available, with its last ranking dating back to 2011-2012, making current performance difficult to assess. Its district, Anderson 05, holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile.
The most striking difference is in attendance. Homeland Park Primary has a chronic absenteeism rate of 35.2%—more than double the state average (22.3%) and more than double Flat Rock Elementary's rate of 17.0%. This is especially concerning for a school serving younger students, as early attendance patterns often predict long-term success. Interestingly, Homeland Park Primary actually spends more per student ($14,526 vs. $13,519) despite facing greater challenges, raising questions about resource effectiveness. For families, Flat Rock Elementary offers stronger academic outcomes and better attendance, while Homeland Park Primary presents a data gap that makes it harder to evaluate—a factor worth considering when choosing a school in this area.
Thank you for your feedback!