Summary:
In zip code 29944, there is just one elementary school, Varnville Elementary, which serves grades PK through 3rd and enrolls 251 students in the Hampton school district.
For parents considering this area, Varnville Elementary presents a mixed picture. The school has a notably low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.2%, far better than the district (22.9%) and state (22.3%) averages, suggesting students are consistently in class. It also invests heavily in its students, spending $16,629 per pupil, which is a substantial amount. Academically, the school's 3rd-grade math performance in 2024-2025 (52.5% proficient) actually beat the district average (47.2%), though it trailed the state (56.3%). However, there are significant concerns. The school's overall state ranking is in the 20th percentile (1-star), and test scores show a sharp decline between grades. While 3rd-grade scores are relatively close to district averages, 4th-grade scores drop dramatically, with math proficiency at just 23.5% compared to the state's 52.3% and ELA at 53.2% versus the state's 65.4%. Furthermore, year-over-year data for 3rd grade shows a troubling downward trend, with ELA proficiency falling from 57.4% to 50% and math from 52.5% to 44.4%.
The key takeaway is that Varnville Elementary has a strong attendance culture and high per-student funding, but these advantages are not translating into strong academic results, especially in the upper grades. The school mirrors its district's overall performance, but the district itself is ranked in the bottom third of South Carolina. Parents should be aware of the significant academic challenges, particularly the drop-off in 4th grade and the declining 3rd-grade scores, which point to a need for targeted interventions to support student achievement.
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