Summary:
Zip code 29638, serving the Donalds, SC area, is home to just one school—Cherokee Trail Elementary—a public school in the Abbeville 60 district that serves grades PK through 6 with an enrollment of 360 students.
Cherokee Trail Elementary is a standout performer, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 15% of elementary schools statewide for three consecutive years. The school significantly outperforms both its district and state averages across nearly every subject and grade level. English Language Arts is a clear strength, with all grade levels scoring above 76% proficiency, and 4th grade ELA reaching 84.8%—nearly 20 points above the state average. The school also benefits from a low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.9% (compared to 22.3% statewide) and a favorable 13.3:1 student-to-teacher ratio, both of which likely contribute to its academic success. Per-student spending is $12,453.
The primary area for improvement is 5th grade math, where proficiency dropped to 53.3%—only 4.2 points above the state average and a significant decline from the previous year. This represents the school's narrowest advantage over state averages and suggests a potential curriculum transition issue. However, the school shows strong year-over-year growth in other areas, including a 14.7-point improvement in 3rd grade math and a 10.1-point gain in 4th grade science. While 6th grade science dipped slightly, both science scores remain well above state averages. Overall, Cherokee Trail Elementary is a high-achieving school that families in the 29638 area can feel confident about, with exceptional ELA instruction, strong early-grade math, and a supportive learning environment that consistently delivers results above district and state benchmarks.
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