Summary:
In zip code 29625, there is one middle school, Robert Anderson Middle, serving grades 6-8 with an enrollment of 1,134 students in the Anderson 05 district.
For parents considering this area, the most important takeaway is that Robert Anderson Middle is a school of stark contrasts. The standout strength is its Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam performance, where 98% of tested students scored proficient—far exceeding the district (75.8%) and state (73.95%) averages. However, this success appears limited to a select group of advanced students. On standard grade-level SC READY tests, the school lags significantly behind district and state averages in English Language Arts (39-45% proficient vs. 56-62% statewide), Mathematics (26-34% vs. 41-52%), and Science (41.5% vs. 51.9% statewide). The school's state ranking has declined for three consecutive years, now sitting at the 24th percentile with a 1-star rating.
The most critical concern is chronic absenteeism. At 37.8%, nearly 4 in 10 students are chronically absent—substantially higher than the district (24.8%) and state (22.3%) rates. This likely drives the below-average test scores in core subjects. The school spends $13,695 per student with a favorable 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio, yet this investment hasn't translated into broad academic gains. The "Algebra paradox" suggests the school excels at accelerating a small, high-performing cohort while the majority of students struggle. For parents, this means the school offers a strong pathway for advanced math students, but the overall academic environment faces serious challenges related to attendance and grade-level proficiency that would require careful consideration.
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