Summary:
Zip code 29909 is home to a single public elementary school, Okatie Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 and is part of the Beaufort 01 school district.
Okatie Elementary is a high-performing school that has earned a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for three consecutive years, placing it in the top 26% of elementary schools in South Carolina. Its state ranking has improved from 169th to 124th over the past two years, showing a strong upward trend. Academically, the school excels in the early grades. In 3rd grade, 83.8% of students are proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and 78.8% in math, both well above district and state averages. Fourth graders also perform strongly, with 73.5% proficient in ELA and 68.4% in math, along with 66.4% in science. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is just 11.0%, less than half the district rate of 21.3% and state rate of 22.3%, indicating excellent student attendance. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1 and per-student spending of $17,061, the school is well-resourced to support its students.
The most notable area for improvement is 5th grade performance. While 3rd and 4th graders outperform state averages, 5th graders fall below the state average in ELA (55.6% vs. 63.6%) and only slightly exceed it in math (51.3% vs. 49.1%). This dip suggests a potential transition challenge as students approach middle school. However, the school's consistent strength in early grades, combined with its low absenteeism and strong resource allocation, makes it a standout choice for families with younger elementary students. The 5th-grade decline is the key area to watch, and addressing it could solidify the school's position as a top-tier institution in South Carolina.
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