Best High Schools in Zip Code 29936

Zip code 29936 in Ridgeland, South Carolina, is served by a single high school, Ridgeland Secondary Academy of Excellence, which enrolls 739 students across grades 6 through 12 as part of the Jasper 01 district.

For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that it faces significant academic challenges across nearly every subject, though there are a few relative bright spots. The school consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of South Carolina high schools, holding a 1-star rating for three consecutive years and dropping from the 27th to the 22nd percentile in the most recent ranking. The graduation rate is a major concern at just 67.0%, nearly 20 points below the state average of 86.7%, and the dropout rate of 2.8% exceeds both district and state levels. Chronic absenteeism affects 29.6% of students, which is 7 points above the state average and likely contributes to the low performance. In terms of test scores, U.S. History is the weakest subject with only 35.49% proficiency—a 27-point gap from the state—while English 2 is the strongest at 77.61%, though still below the state's 83.79%. Interestingly, English 2 proficiency is 28 points higher than English 1, suggesting students who persist to that level perform better.

The most alarming data comes from the middle school grades housed within this same building. Math proficiency is critically low, with just 11.2% of 7th graders proficient—meaning fewer than 1 in 8 students meet standards—and 7th-grade ELA proficiency sits at only 28.0%. These foundational gaps likely cascade into the high school struggles seen in graduation rates and EOCEP scores. On a positive note, 6th-grade scores improved significantly year-over-year in ELA, math, and science, showing that targeted interventions can work. The school spends $14,218 per student, which is relatively high, indicating that funding alone isn't the solution. Parents should prioritize asking about math intervention programs, U.S. History instruction, and attendance initiatives when considering this school.