Summary:
Zip code 29640 in Easley, South Carolina, is home to four public elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within the highly-rated Pickens 01 district, which ranks 17th out of 75 districts in the state.
For parents, the standout academic performer is McKissick Academy of Science & Technology, which despite having the smallest enrollment (519 students), achieved the highest state ranking among the group in 2024-2025 (113th, 82nd percentile). However, McKissick saw a significant decline in 2025-2026, particularly in 4th grade ELA (dropping from 87.2% to 65.8% proficiency) and 4th grade Science (from 72.1% to 47.3%). In contrast, East End Elementary shows the most dramatic internal disparity, with 3rd grade scores far below district averages (47.3% ELA, 40.9% Math) but 4th grade scores well above (78.0% ELA, 67.6% Math), suggesting a possible cohort effect. Dacusville Elementary offers the most consistent performance across all grades and subjects, hovering near or above district averages. The school needing the most attention is Crosswell Elementary, which has the highest per-student spending ($13,545) and lowest student-teacher ratio (12.3:1) yet produces the weakest results, including a 4th grade Science proficiency of just 38.7%—13 points below the state average.
A notable trend across all four schools is a "3rd grade math dip," where proficiency in that subject is consistently lower than other grades and subjects. Additionally, all schools maintain chronic absenteeism rates (14.9% to 17.7%) well below the district (24.3%) and state (22.3%) averages, a positive indicator. Science scores create the widest gap between schools, with East End and Dacusville both at 63.7% proficiency versus Crosswell's 38.7%. Given the significant year-to-year volatility in scores, parents should examine multi-year trends rather than single-year snapshots when comparing these schools.
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