Summary:
Zip code 29824 in Edgefield, SC, is served by a single elementary school, W. E. Parker Elementary, which enrolls 339 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Edgefield 01 school district.
W. E. Parker Elementary is a school on a clear upward trajectory. Its state ranking has climbed dramatically over the past two years, moving from the 37th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 62nd percentile in 2025-2026—a 25-point jump that places it in the top half of schools statewide. The school’s standout performance is in 4th grade, where math proficiency (69.8%) exceeds the district average by 17.5 points and the state average by 13.3 points, and science proficiency (52.9%) also outpaces both benchmarks. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.3 and per-student spending of $16,370, the school is well-resourced. Chronic absenteeism is notably low at 18.2%, compared to 22.9% for the district and 22.3% for the state, suggesting strong student engagement.
However, the picture is not uniform across all grades. While 4th grade is a clear strength, 5th-grade math proficiency (43.6%) falls 5.5 points below the state average, indicating a potential transition challenge. Test scores also show significant year-over-year volatility—5th-grade math more than doubled from 21.1% to 43.6%, while 5th-grade ELA swung from 47.4% to 74.6%—which may reflect cohort differences rather than stable trends. The school consistently outperforms its district in most subjects, but its statewide performance is mixed, beating the state in 4th-grade math and science and 5th-grade ELA while trailing in 3rd-grade math and 5th-grade math. For parents, this is a school with strong momentum, excellent resources, and notable academic peaks, but one that may require attention to math support in the upper grades.
Thank you for your feedback!