Edgefield 01

The Edgefield 01 school district in South Carolina consists of 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. While the district as a whole ranks 50th out of 75 districts in the state, there are significant disparities in academic performance between the higher-performing and lower-performing schools.

The standout schools in the district are Merriwether Middle, which ranks 91st out of 325 South Carolina middle schools and has a 4-star rating, and Merriwether Elementary, which ranks 290th out of 638 South Carolina elementary schools and has a 3-star rating. These schools have above-average test scores, with over 50% proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics. In contrast, schools like W.E. Parker Elementary, Johnston Elementary, and Douglas Elementary stand out as the lowest performing, with test scores in the bottom 25% of the state.

The disparities in performance within the Edgefield 01 district are closely tied to socioeconomic factors, with the schools with the highest free/reduced lunch rates tending to have the lowest test scores and rankings. This suggests a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and academic achievement, raising concerns about equity and access to quality education within the district. Addressing these disparities should be a priority for the district to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.