Summary:
Zip code 29907 in Beaufort, South Carolina, is served by five public schools—two elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school—enrolling roughly 2,188 students across the Beaufort 01 district and the School Public Charter School District.
For parents, the standout choice in this area is clearly Coosa Elementary, which ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide and outperforms district and state averages in every subject and grade level tested. Its ELA proficiency ranges from 74-83%, and science proficiency hits 70%—an 18-point advantage over the state. In contrast, Lady's Island Elementary has suffered a dramatic collapse, falling from the 60th to the 34th percentile in one year, with 4th grade math proficiency plunging from 72.7% to just 12.5%. Lady's Island Middle also struggles, holding a 2-star rating for three straight years with only 26-35% of students proficient in math and a chronic absenteeism rate of 29.3%. Beaufort High performs adequately overall, with an 86.6% graduation rate and strong English 2 proficiency at 88%, though its chronic absenteeism (28.1%) is a concern. The tiny Sea Islands Heritage Academy (38 students) offers no public performance data, making it difficult to evaluate.
One of the most striking findings is that spending does not correlate with success—Lady's Island Elementary spends $28,727 per student (77% more than Beaufort High) yet shows the steepest decline. Meanwhile, Coosa Elementary achieves top results with $18,666 per student. There is also a clear "middle school slide," as strong elementary performers like Coosa feed into weaker middle schools. However, Lady's Island Middle achieved a perfect 100% proficiency in Algebra 1 EOCEP, far exceeding district and state averages, suggesting its advanced math students are exceptionally well-prepared. The sharp decline at Lady's Island Elementary warrants immediate investigation, as it was performing well just one year ago.
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