Summary:
Zip code 29640 in Easley, South Carolina, is served by two middle schools—Richard H. Gettys Middle and Dacusville Middle—both part of the highly rated Pickens 01 district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks 17th out of 75 districts in South Carolina.
For parents comparing the two, Richard H. Gettys Middle is the larger and higher-performing school, enrolling 1,217 students in grades 6-8. It currently ranks 102nd in the state (70th percentile) and shows strong recent improvement. Gettys excels in 8th grade ELA (64.4% proficient) and 6th grade science (65.7%), and posts an exceptional 95.13% proficiency on the Algebra 1 EOCEP—far above district and state averages. In contrast, Dacusville Middle is much smaller (356 students) and ranks 163rd (51st percentile), with a declining trend over the past three years. However, Dacusville achieves a perfect 100% proficiency on the Algebra 1 EOCEP, surpassing even Gettys. Despite spending 52.6% more per student ($16,338 vs. $10,709), Dacusville trails Gettys in 8 of 9 subject-grade combinations, suggesting that larger schools may benefit from economies of scale and broader resources.
Both schools share notable strengths and challenges. They both outperform the state in 6th grade science, and their advanced math pathways are exceptional. However, standard mathematics proficiency is a clear weak point—Gettys ranges from 40-42% across grades, while Dacusville drops to 28.2% in 7th grade. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at both schools, with rates around 30%—roughly 8 points above the state average—affecting nearly one in three students. Test scores also fluctuate significantly year to year, indicating sensitivity to cohort differences. Overall, families in this zip code have two solid options: Gettys offers consistent, higher overall performance, while Dacusville provides a smaller environment with standout advanced math results, though both schools have room to improve in standard math and attendance.
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