Summary:
Zip code 29717 is home to just one school, Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary, a small rural school in Hickory Grove, South Carolina, serving grades PK through 6 with 401 students in the York 01 district.
For parents considering this school, the most encouraging news is its strong upward trajectory. The school has climbed from the 34th to the 51st percentile in state rankings over just two years, a remarkable 17-point improvement. The standout area is 6th grade, where students significantly outperform both district and state averages in ELA (61.8% vs. 49.2% district and 56.3% state) and science (49% vs. 37.3% district). The school also boasts a favorable 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio, which supports personalized attention. However, there are clear areas of concern. Fifth grade ELA proficiency dropped sharply to 46.3%, falling 17.3 points below the state average, and math remains a persistent challenge—4th and 6th grade math scores actually declined year-over-year. Chronic absenteeism is also elevated at 29.4%, well above the state average of 22.3%, which likely hampers academic progress.
Looking at year-over-year trends, the picture is mixed. ELA scores improved dramatically in grades 3, 4, and 6 (gains of 6.9 to 9.5 points), but 5th grade fell by 7.2 points. Math showed a huge jump in 3rd grade (+16.1 points) but declines in 4th and 6th grades. Science improved in both tested grades. With per-student spending of $14,293, the school invests above average, yet overall performance sits only slightly above the state median. The small school environment and recent momentum suggest real potential, but consistency across all grades and subjects—plus addressing attendance—will be key to sustaining this improvement.
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