Summary:
Zip code 29902 in Beaufort, South Carolina, is served by three public schools within the Beaufort 01 school district, including two elementary schools and one middle school, with no high school options available in this immediate area.
For parents, Beaufort Middle stands out as the academic leader, particularly with an extraordinary 95.24% proficiency rate on the Algebra 1 exam—far exceeding district and state averages—and strong 8th-grade ELA scores at 72.7%. However, this school also has a concerning 39.9% chronic absenteeism rate, nearly double the district average, which is a paradox worth noting. Among the elementary schools, Beaufort Elementary is the consistent performer with a perfect 0.0% chronic absenteeism rate and stable ELA scores, though its math proficiency declines sharply from 59.6% in 3rd grade to 34.8% in 5th grade. Mossy Oaks Elementary shows a different pattern, with weaker 3rd-grade math (26.0%) but improvement by 5th grade (48.2%), and it has seen its overall ranking decline from the 52nd to 35th percentile over the past year.
Key takeaways for families include significant spending disparities—Beaufort Elementary spends about $7,000 more per student than Mossy Oaks Elementary without a corresponding boost in rankings—and notable year-to-year volatility across all three schools, with rankings fluctuating by 10-17 percentile points. While Beaufort Middle excels in advanced math and 8th-grade ELA, its general math proficiency remains modest (29-48%), suggesting that advanced students are exceptionally well-served while others may need more support. Overall, these schools sit in the middle tier of South Carolina schools, offering solid educational opportunities within a district rated 3 stars, but parents should consider each school's unique strengths and challenges when making decisions.
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