Summary:
Zip code 29697 in Williamston, SC is served by two public elementary schools—Cedar Grove Elementary and Palmetto Elementary—both part of the highly-ranked Anderson 01 district, which holds a 5-star rating and ranks #3 out of 75 districts in South Carolina.
These two schools, despite similar enrollments (596 and 572 students) and serving grades PK-5, show a stark performance divide. Cedar Grove Elementary is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 120th out of 649 elementary schools statewide (82nd percentile). It outperforms Palmetto Elementary in every subject and grade level tested. The most dramatic gap is in 4th grade math, where Cedar Grove scores 66.0% proficiency versus Palmetto's 45.0%—a 21-point difference. Cedar Grove also excels in 4th grade ELA at 82.5%, well above the state average of 65.4%. Meanwhile, Palmetto Elementary holds a 3-star rating, ranks 320th (51st percentile), and has shown a three-year downward trend from the 65th to 51st percentile. Interestingly, Palmetto actually spends more per student ($12,488 vs. $11,395) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (12.9:1 vs. 13.9:1) than Cedar Grove, yet achieves worse results—suggesting resource allocation alone doesn't drive success.
Both schools generally exceed state averages, but with notable caveats. Cedar Grove's math proficiency declines sharply by grade level, dropping from 72.6% in 3rd grade to 53.8% in 5th grade—a nearly 19-point slide. Palmetto shows relative strength in ELA (its 4th grade score of 68.8% beats the state's 65.4%) but struggles significantly in math, falling below state averages in 4th and 5th grades. Attendance data adds another twist: Palmetto has better chronic absenteeism (14.0%) than Cedar Grove (17.8%), yet still underperforms academically. For families in this zip code, school choice clearly matters—Cedar Grove offers consistently strong academics, while Palmetto, despite better attendance and more funding, faces challenges that warrant closer investigation into its instructional practices and leadership.
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