Summary:
Zip code 29924 in Hampton, South Carolina, is served by a single elementary school, Ben Hazel Primary School, which enrolls 222 students in grades PK-3 within the Hampton school district.
For parents considering this area, Ben Hazel Primary offers a clear academic profile: it is a standout in English Language Arts, with 4th grade ELA proficiency at 77.2%—nearly 12 points above the state average—and 3rd grade ELA improved by 5.3 points year-over-year to 65.9%. However, math and science are significant concerns. Fourth grade math proficiency sits at just 34.3% (18 points below the state), and science is similarly low at 34.2%. This sharp divergence between literacy and STEM subjects suggests a strong reading program that may not be translating to quantitative skills. The school also has a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1, and per-student spending is high at $18,301, yet the school ranks only in the 47th percentile statewide (342 out of 649 schools).
The most pressing issue is chronic absenteeism, which affects 25.2% of students—higher than both the district (22.9%) and state (22.3%) rates. This is particularly concerning in early grades, as missed instruction can compound learning gaps, especially in math and science. While the school outperforms its district in every subject, the district itself ranks in the bottom third of South Carolina, indicating systemic challenges. The high per-pupil spending may reflect the fixed costs of running a small rural school rather than targeted program investments. For parents, the takeaway is that Ben Hazel Primary excels at teaching reading but struggles with STEM subjects and attendance. If your child needs strong literacy foundations, this school delivers; if math and science are priorities, you may need to supplement at home or consider the school's intermediate feeder for upper grades.
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