Summary:
Zip code 29935 in Port Royal, SC, is served by a single elementary school, Port Royal Elementary, which enrolls 179 students in grades PK-5 within the Beaufort 01 school district.
Port Royal Elementary is a small school with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.6:1 and a high per-student spending of $25,799, indicating a resource-rich environment. The school has shown dramatic improvement in its state ranking, jumping from the 27th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 55th percentile in 2025-2026, a rise of 173 positions. A major strength is its chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.0%, which is nearly half the state average of 22.3%, suggesting strong family engagement. However, test scores present a mixed picture. In the most recent year, 3rd grade students outperformed the state in both ELA (68.9% vs. 64.1%) and math (62.1% vs. 59.2%), but 5th grade students fell significantly behind in both subjects, with math proficiency at just 41.6% compared to the state's 49.1%.
This "grade-level cliff" pattern is the most notable finding. While early grades show promise, upper-grade performance lags, raising questions about how resources are deployed as students advance. The improvement in state ranking, despite below-average test scores in the prior year, suggests the rise may be driven by factors beyond test scores. With no middle or high school in the zip code, families will need to look outside the immediate area for secondary education. Overall, Port Royal Elementary is a school in transition, with excellent attendance and resources, but with clear challenges in upper elementary achievement that parents should consider when evaluating the school.
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