Summary:
Zip code 29626 in Anderson, SC is home to two elementary schools within the Anderson 05 school district, a highly-rated district (4 stars, 71st percentile statewide), serving a combined 932 students across grades PK-5.
For parents, the most important takeaway is the stark contrast between the two schools. McLees Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 67th percentile statewide (217th out of 649 schools) with a 3-star rating. It significantly outperforms Varennes Elementary, which sits in the bottom quartile (22nd percentile, 1 star). In English Language Arts, McLees excels, with 4th and 5th grade proficiency rates around 75%—roughly 27 percentage points higher than Varennes in those same grades. McLees also leads in math across all grade levels, though both schools see math proficiency decline as students advance. For instance, 3rd grade math proficiency is 67% at McLees versus 52% at Varennes, but by 5th grade, those numbers drop to 52% and 31%, respectively. Science is a weak point for both, with 4th grade scores of 43% at McLees and just 27% at Varennes, both below the state average of 52%.
Interestingly, both schools spend nearly the same amount per student (about $14,000-$14,800) and have similar student-teacher ratios (13-14:1), yet the academic gap is enormous. Both also struggle with chronic absenteeism at roughly 24.5%, above the state average of 22.3%. One notable difference is that McLees serves grades PK-5, while Varennes only serves grades 3-5, meaning Varennes students arrive without the benefit of K-2 instruction at that school. Given that Varennes underperforms district averages in every subject, parents considering this area should weigh the significant performance disparity between these two schools, despite their shared district and resources.
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