Carolina Elementary

Summary:

Carolina Elementary is a public elementary school located in Hartsville, South Carolina, serving grades 1-5 with a student population of 228. The school is part of the Darlington 01 school district, which is ranked 41 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Carolina Elementary consistently outperforms the Darlington 01 district and the state of South Carolina in standardized test scores, particularly in 5th-grade English Language Arts and Mathematics. For example, in 2023-2024, 73.8% of 5th-grade students at Carolina Elementary were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 49.7% in the district and 55.7% statewide. However, the school's ranking has declined in recent years, dropping to 228th out of 638 schools in 2023-2024, despite maintaining strong test scores. This suggests that other schools in the state may be improving at a faster rate. Additionally, the high percentage of students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds (100% free/reduced lunch) at Carolina Elementary appears to be a significant factor in the school's overall performance, as this subgroup lags behind their peers statewide.

While Carolina Elementary outperforms the Darlington 01 district and the state on many metrics, some nearby schools, such as North Hartsville Elementary and Lamar-Spaulding Elementary, also demonstrate strong academic performance, particularly in specific grade levels or subject areas. This suggests that there may be opportunities for Carolina Elementary to learn from the effective teaching practices or programs in place at these neighboring schools to further improve outcomes for all students.


Detail:

Public 1-5

 719 West Carolina Avenue
       Hartsville, SC  29550


(843) 857-3230

District: Darlington 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
228th of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,790 Help


Students who attend Carolina Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Hartsville Middle
High:    Hartsville High

Student/teacher ratio:  11.4 Help
Number of students:  213

Racial breakdown:

White:
65.3%
African American:
23.9%
Hispanic:
5.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Carolina Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Carolina Elementary ranks better than 64.3% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks first among 8 ranked elementary schools in the Darlington 01 School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 63.16. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (65.3%), African American (23.9%), Hispanic (5.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Darlington 01 School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Carolina Elementary is 11.4, which is the 4th best among 8 elementary schools in the Darlington 01 School District. (See more...)
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Compare Carolina Elementary employs 18.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Carolina Elementary is $18,790, which is the 3rd highest among 8 elementary schools in the Darlington 01 School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Carolina Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Carolina Elementary 228th of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See Carolina Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Darlington 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Darlington 01 41st of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Carolina Elementary.

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Rank History for Carolina Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Carolina Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 65.75 187th 542 65.5%
2004 60.82 223rd 550 59.5%
2005 71.82 140th 557 74.9%
2006 63.41 221st 559 60.5%
2007 79.94 84th 566 85.2%
2008 83.11 54th 577 90.6%
2009 73.64 137th 580 76.4%
2010 59.97 242nd 589 58.9%
2011 76.60 110th 597 81.6%
2012 80.65 80th 594 86.5%
2013 83.70 58th 599 90.3%
2014 81.82 74th 630 88.3%
2015 93.43 20th 638 96.9%
2016 90.56 32nd 619 94.8%
2017 89.29 44th 639 93.1%
2018 83.79 87th 624 86.1%
2019 76.88 136th 643 78.8%
2021 68.01 185th 622 70.3%
2022 62.58 223rd 625 64.3%
2023 67.28 205th 644 68.2%
2024 63.16 228th 638 64.3%
See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Carolina Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 63.55 211th 600 64.8%
2021 55.83 249th 580 57.1%
2022 20.23 500th 600 16.7%
2023 44.94 334th 608 45.1%
2024 51.38 290th 599 51.6%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Carolina Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.01 35th 570 93.9%
2019 79.18 113th 588 80.8%
2023 60.47 224th 580 61.4%
2024 65.42 187th 565 66.9%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Carolina Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 72.22 141st 571 75.3%
2019 70.68 163rd 590 72.4%
2021 77.63 111th 561 80.2%
2022 60.48 230th 579 60.3%
2024 56.52 249th 568 56.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Carolina Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.78 80th 457 82.5%
2019 74.50 108th 472 77.1%
2021 62.25 162nd 439 63.1%
2022 54.49 227th 455 50.1%
2023 58.30 202nd 463 56.4%
2024 57.13 206th 441 53.3%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Carolina Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
Facebook Profile Picture by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, September 24, 2015

Open Quote my son was in this school in 1st grad and he was really happy to learn play and he was felling great at that place, really good teacher and management.but he is in Washington street elementary school which is my bad decision ever mad,e i just decide to put my son in private school, i prefer not to put him in Washington elementary school. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Carolina Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 270 183 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 455
1989 278 172 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 452
1990 284 175 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 460
1991 300 197 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 498
1992 288 165 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 454
1993 294 168 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 464
1994 260 176 3 0 1 n/a n/a 0 440
1995 222 196 2 0 1 n/a n/a 0 421
1996 222 196 2 0 1 n/a n/a 0 421
1997 187 184 5 2 1 n/a n/a 0 379
1998 183 157 5 4 0 n/a n/a 0 349
1999 197 133 7 0 0 n/a n/a 0 337
2000 196 138 6 0 0 n/a n/a 0 340
2001 200 138 6 0 0 n/a n/a 0 344
2002 202 109 2 1 0 n/a n/a 2 316
2003 202 109 2 1 0 n/a n/a 2 316
2004 213 138 3 1 0 n/a n/a 2 357
2005 181 120 2 1 0 n/a n/a 2 306
2006 163 123 7 3 0 n/a n/a 0 296
2007 145 82 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 238
2008 162 76 5 5 0 n/a n/a 0 248
2009 164 73 1 6 0 n/a n/a 0 244
2010 179 76 2 8 0 n/a n/a 0 265
2011 185 58 4 4 0 0 5 0 256
2012 201 58 3 5 0 0 5 0 272
2013 205 43 9 5 1 0 9 0 272
2014 186 44 9 7 0 0 5 0 251
2015 154 43 13 10 0 0 9 0 229
2016 164 47 12 8 0 0 5 0 236
2017 176 52 8 10 0 0 8 0 254
2018 175 54 7 12 0 0 13 0 261
2019 170 62 6 12 0 0 21 0 271
2020 167 69 4 15 0 0 25 0 280
2021 138 52 3 9 0 0 21 0 223
2022 148 49 3 8 0 0 20 0 228
2023 144 55 3 8 0 0 18 0 228
2024 139 51 3 11 0 0 9 0 213

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Carolina Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 455 25.6 17.7 n/a
1989 452 28.2 16.0 n/a
1990 460 29.1 15.8 n/a
1991 498 31.2 15.9 29.5
1992 454 30.5 14.8 34.4
1993 464 30.0 15.5 39.7
1994 440 30.0 14.7 41.1
1995 421 31.0 13.6 42.3
1996 421 31.0 13.6 42.3
1997 379 30.0 12.6 39.8
1998 349 30.0 11.6 40.1
1999 337 31.0 10.9 43.9
2000 340 31.0 11.0 43.2
2001 344 33.0 10.4 39.8
2002 316 28.0 11.3 36.6
2003 316 28.0 11.3 36.6
2004 357 29.0 12.3 45.1
2005 306 26.3 11.6 41.1
2006 296 25.3 11.7 43.2
2007 238 26.0 9.2 38.7
2008 248 15.0 16.5 39.5
2009 244 15.0 16.3 43.4
2010 265 14.0 18.9 43
2011 256 14.0 18.2 39.5
2012 272 13.0 20.9 39.7
2013 272 14.0 19.4 35.7
2014 251 16.0 15.6 35.5
2015 229 15.0 15.2 39.3
2016 236 13.0 18.1 100
2017 254 15.0 16.9 100
2018 261 17.0 15.3 100
2019 271 18.0 15.0 100
2020 280 19.0 14.7 100
2021 223 22.0 10.1 100
2022 228 20.0 11.4 100
2023 228 20.6 11.0 100
2024 213 18.6 11.4 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Carolina Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 455 25.6 17.7 n/a
1989 452 28.2 16.0 n/a
1990 460 29.1 15.8 n/a
1991 498 31.2 15.9 29.5
1992 454 30.5 14.8 34.4
1993 464 30.0 15.5 39.7
1994 440 30.0 14.7 41.1
1995 421 31.0 13.6 42.3
1996 421 31.0 13.6 42.3
1997 379 30.0 12.6 39.8
1998 349 30.0 11.6 40.1
1999 337 31.0 10.9 43.9
2000 340 31.0 11.0 43.2
2001 344 33.0 10.4 39.8
2002 316 28.0 11.3 36.6
2003 316 28.0 11.3 36.6
2004 357 29.0 12.3 45.1
2005 306 26.3 11.6 41.1
2006 296 25.3 11.7 43.2
2007 238 26.0 9.2 38.7
2008 248 15.0 16.5 39.5
2009 244 15.0 16.3 43.4
2010 265 14.0 18.9 43
2011 256 14.0 18.2 39.5
2012 272 13.0 20.9 39.7
2013 272 14.0 19.4 35.7
2014 251 16.0 15.6 35.5
2015 229 15.0 15.2 39.3
2016 236 13.0 18.1 100
2017 254 15.0 16.9 100
2018 261 17.0 15.3 100
2019 271 18.0 15.0 100
2020 280 19.0 14.7 100
2021 223 22.0 10.1 100
2022 228 20.0 11.4 100
2023 228 20.6 11.0 100
2024 213 18.6 11.4 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Carolina Elementary

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,286 (11.5%) $368 (3.3%) $1,654 (14.8%) $8,272 (74.1%) $1,240 (11.1%) $9,512 (85.2%) $11,166
2020 $1,718 (14.5%) $464 (3.9%) $2,183 (18.4%) $8,146 (68.8%) $1,514 (12.8%) $9,661 (81.6%) $11,843
2021 $1,525 (12.3%) $449 (3.6%) $1,974 (15.9%) $9,129 (73.3%) $1,345 (10.8%) $10,474 (84.1%) $12,448
2022 $2,605 (15.9%) $1,098 (6.7%) $3,703 (22.7%) $11,102 (68.0%) $1,528 (9.4%) $12,630 (77.3%) $16,333
2023 $3,808 (20.3%) $1,529 (8.1%) $5,337 (28.4%) $11,839 (63.0%) $1,615 (8.6%) $13,453 (71.6%) $18,790

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Carolina Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 136th of 643 Elementary schoolsRanks 205th of 644 Elementary schools
 10.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Carolina Elementary)62.353.6
 8.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Darlington 01)36.542.7
 6.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)49.753.5
 3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Carolina Elementary)69.555.4
 14.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Darlington 01)49.746
 3.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)57.753.6
 4.1%
4th Grade Science (Carolina Elementary)65.963.6
 2.3%
   4th Grade Science (Darlington 01)48.640.3
 8.3%
   4th Grade Science (South Carolina)5246.6
 5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Carolina Elementary)48.963.7
 14.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Darlington 01)41.452
 10.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)51.357.2
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Carolina Elementary)74.459.1
 15.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Darlington 01)48.939.7
 9.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)50.547
 3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Carolina Elementary)48.959.4
 10.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Darlington 01)28.344.9
 16.6%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4155.2
 14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Carolina Elementary)60.548.6
 11.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Darlington 01)35.734.2
 1.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)45.444.6
 0.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students271228
 15.9%
African American6255
 11.3%
American Indian00
Asian63
 50%
Hispanic128
 33.3%
Pacific Islander00
White170144
 15.3%
Two or More Races2118
 14.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Carolina Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Carolina Elementary

Students at Carolina Elementary are 65% White, 24% African American, 5% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 213 students attended Carolina Elementary.

Carolina Elementary ranks 228th of 638 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Carolina Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hartsville Middle
High : Hartsville High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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