Schools in Zip Code 29709

ZIP code 29709 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, is served by three public schools within the Chesterfield 01 district, which collectively educate 1,437 students across grades PK-12. The district itself holds a 1-star rating, but individual school performance varies significantly, making it important for families to look beyond the district-level label.

Chesterfield High is the clear academic leader in the area, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 56th percentile statewide. Its English 2 proficiency rate of 79.69% approaches the state average, and it outperforms the district by wide margins in English 1 and U.S. History. However, the school struggles with retention, posting a 4.1% dropout rate—roughly double the state average—and a graduation rate of 80.4% that trails the state's 86.7%. In contrast, Edwards Elementary shows the most consistent year-over-year improvement, with notable gains in 3rd grade ELA and math (each up about 10 points) and 5th grade math. Its 4th grade science proficiency, however, dropped sharply to 32.5%, well below the state's 51.6%.

The most concerning data comes from Chesterfield-Ruby Middle, where math proficiency is critically low—ranging from 17.2% in 7th grade to 28.6% in 6th grade, roughly half the state averages. Yet the school excels in 6th grade science (63.2%, exceeding the state by 11 points) and reports 100% proficiency on the Algebra 1 EOCEP, suggesting strong preparation for the select students who reach that course. All three schools share a positive trend: chronic absenteeism rates near 17.7%, significantly better than the district's 24.1% and the state's 22.3%. Spending per student is consistent ($13,528–$14,029), and student-teacher ratios are favorable (13.8–14.7), indicating that academic gaps are more likely tied to instructional or curricular challenges than to resource shortages.