Summary:
Zip code 29907 in Beaufort, South Carolina, is served by two elementary schools—Coosa Elementary and Lady's Island Elementary—both part of the Beaufort 01 district and covering grades PK through 5, though they differ dramatically in size, performance, and resources.
For parents, the standout choice is clearly Coosa Elementary, which enrolls 467 students and consistently ranks in the top 20% of South Carolina elementary schools (currently 117th statewide, 4 stars). Coosa outperforms both district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade, with 4th-grade ELA proficiency at 83.2% versus the state's 65.4%, and 4th-grade science at 69.9% versus the state's 51.6%. Its scores are remarkably stable across grades, suggesting strong, systematic teaching. In contrast, Lady's Island Elementary (241 students) ranks 429th (2 stars) and shows extreme volatility—most notably, 4th-grade math proficiency collapsed from 72.7% to 12.5% in one year, and 4th-grade science fell to 29.2%. While Lady's Island's 5th-grade scores hover near state averages, its 4th-grade results are far below expectations.
A key paradox: Lady's Island spends 54% more per student ($28,727 vs. $18,666) and has a much lower student-teacher ratio (8.0 vs. 12.9), yet still underperforms Coosa academically. This suggests resources alone don't drive success. Both schools have chronic absenteeism below state averages (17.2% at Coosa, 19.6% at Lady's Island), but Lady's Island's higher rate and small enrollment may amplify score swings. For families, Coosa offers the stronger, more reliable academic program, while Lady's Island's recent declines—especially in 4th grade—warrant close monitoring and targeted intervention from the district.
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