Schools in Zip Code 29829

Zip code 29829 in Graniteville, South Carolina, is served by four schools in the Aiken 01 district, enrolling 3,223 students across two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

For families with younger children, Byrd Elementary stands out as the strongest elementary option, with 3rd-grade ELA proficiency (70.3%) exceeding both district and state averages, and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the area at just 10.2%—less than half the district average. However, Byrd's math scores in 4th and 5th grades (31.9% and 36.0%) lag significantly behind state averages, revealing a notable weakness. Graniteville Elementary offers a more balanced profile and has shown remarkable improvement, jumping 13 percentile points in state ranking in one year, with 4th-grade math improving by 20 points. It also achieves these gains with the lowest per-student spending ($10,525) in the area.

The transition to Leavelle McCampbell Middle presents significant challenges, particularly in mathematics. Math proficiency declines sharply from 32.3% in 6th grade to just 17.0% in 8th grade—a critical concern that is 27 points below the state average. ELA scores also drop upon arrival, suggesting a difficult transition period. At the high school level, Midland Valley High shows a paradox: despite weak middle school math, its Algebra 1 proficiency (70.4%) exceeds the state average, and English 2 proficiency (81.3%) nearly matches state performance. However, chronic absenteeism at the high school is a serious issue at 38.8%, more than 74% above the state average. The graduation rate (84.5%) trails the state by 2.2 points. Overall, families should weigh Byrd's strong early literacy against the systemic math decline that intensifies through middle school.