Summary:
Zip code 29853 is home to a single elementary school, Kelly Edwards Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 in Williston, SC, and is part of the Barnwell school district.
For parents in this area, Kelly Edwards Elementary stands out as a relative bright spot within its district. While the Barnwell district ranks in the bottom 13% of South Carolina districts, the school itself ranks in the 40th percentile statewide (389th out of 649 schools), earning a 2-star rating. This gap suggests the school is performing significantly better than the district average. The school has a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1, which allows for more individualized attention. Its strongest performance is in 5th grade, where ELA proficiency reaches 67.5% and math proficiency hits 51.2%—both well above district averages (52.5% and 29.7%, respectively).
However, the data reveals some inconsistencies. In 3rd grade, ELA proficiency is 66.7%, matching the state average, but 4th grade sees a sharp drop to 50%, which is 15.4 points below the state average—a clear area for focus. Math scores are higher than the district in every grade but still lag the state averages, indicating room for growth. Science proficiency in 4th grade is the lowest subject score at 36%, falling 15.6 points below the state average. Notably, the school's free/reduced lunch data is missing, which would provide helpful socioeconomic context. Overall, Kelly Edwards Elementary is a solid choice within its district, with particular strengths in upper elementary grades, but it faces challenges in 4th-grade literacy and science.
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