Summary:
Zip code 29809, serving the New Ellenton area of South Carolina, contains just 2 schools within the Aiken 01 school district, with a total enrollment of 607 students across elementary and middle grades, and notably no high school in the immediate area.
For parents, the academic picture here is a clear contrast between the two schools. New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle is the stronger performer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 52nd percentile statewide. It excels in English Language Arts, with 8th grade proficiency at 68.3%—well above both district and state averages—and also shines in 6th grade science at 63.4%. However, despite its "STEAM" focus, math proficiency is a major weakness, with 7th and 8th grade scores hovering around just 27%, far below state norms. In contrast, Greendale Elementary struggles overall with a 1-star rating and a 28th percentile rank, though it shows bright spots in upper elementary ELA, particularly 5th grade at 67.5% proficiency. The elementary school also has a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 26.8%, meaning more than one in four students are regularly missing school, which likely contributes to its low ranking.
The most pressing issue across both schools is mathematics, where proficiency rates lag state averages by 15 to 30 points. There is also significant year-over-year volatility in test scores, suggesting small class sizes where individual student performance can swing percentages dramatically. On a positive note, both schools maintain favorable student-teacher ratios (around 13:1) and spend over $14,000 per student, yet the return on that investment is uneven. The middle school's strong literacy and science results indicate effective instruction in those areas, while the elementary school's improving ELA trajectory offers hope. With no high school in the zip code, families should plan for a transition after 8th grade, which may impact continuity and community engagement in education.
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