Summary:
Middle schools in zip code 29801 (Aiken, SC) consist of just two schools—Aiken Intermediate (6th grade only) and Schofield Middle (7th-8th grade)—which together serve about 783 students in the Aiken 01 district, a mid-ranked district (3 stars, 51st percentile statewide).
These two schools form a unique feeder pattern: students spend 6th grade at Aiken Intermediate, then move to Schofield Middle for 7th and 8th grades. The most important thing for parents to know is that academic performance drops sharply during that transition. In 2025-2026, 6th graders at Aiken Intermediate scored 51% proficient in ELA and 30% in math, but by 7th grade at Schofield Middle, those numbers fell to 37.8% in ELA and 20.6% in math—a decline of 13 and 9.5 points respectively. Schofield also has a severe chronic absenteeism problem: 48% of its students are chronically absent, nearly double the district average (25.1%) and more than double the state average (22.3%). Aiken Intermediate’s absenteeism rate (26.5%) is much lower, though still above the state norm. On the positive side, both schools improved in every subject from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, with 8th grade math jumping an impressive 18.1 points (from 9.4% to 27.5%) and 6th grade science rising 12.3 points (to 53.2%).
Spending differs notably: Schofield Middle spends $14,127 per student versus $10,621 at Aiken Intermediate, a 33% gap, yet Schofield’s outcomes remain well below district and state averages. Math is the weakest subject at both schools—Aiken Intermediate is 11 points below the state in math, and Schofield is 21 points below in 7th grade math. Schofield has ranked in the bottom 13th percentile of South Carolina middle schools for three straight years. For parents, this means Aiken Intermediate offers a relatively solid 6th grade experience, but the transition to Schofield Middle brings significant academic and attendance challenges that warrant close monitoring and proactive support.
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