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2024 Best Elementary Schools in South Carolina

Learn more about elementary schools in South Carolina

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The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in South Carolina

The state of South Carolina has nearly a thousand different elementary schools (978) spread across numerous cities and metropolitan areas, some of the largest being Columbia, Greenville and Charleston. That’s only about 5% lower than the typical state, although on a per capita basis, South Carolina actually ranks #48 in the nation, averaging about 24% fewer elementary schools than most states. However, that doesn’t mean school quality drops necessarily, it can actually mean the opposite at times. The typical elementary school in South Carolina has about 443 students on average, which puts it 16% larger than the national average. On a positive note though, despite the larger school size, there are slightly fewer students per teacher as anywhere else in the nation (as evidenced by South Carolina elementary schools having a 13:1 student to teacher ratio, 7% lower than the national average).

As a whole, the average elementary school in the state earns a B grade, which is equal to the national average. Furthermore, of the near 1,000 elementary schools, just under half (48%) are rated above average. Still that leaves 475 options for the parent to evaluate - which can be an overwhelming endeavor. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25% of the nation, that total slims to 305. In other words, there’s still several hundred school options in South Carolina that rank in the nation’s top quartile.

Are public elementary schools in South Carolina a good option?

South Carolina has 723 total public elementary schools, and of that total, traditional public schools comprise 87% or about 632 of them. That’s a large number of options within this subset alone, but for those with above average sights, just over half (54%) score above the national average. It's worth noting that the typical public school size in South Carolina tends to balloon a bit when compared to the national average, clocking in at 516 students per school - nearly 35% above the typical state average.

What is the best public elementary school in South Carolina?

Based near Charlotte and Fort Mill Tega Cay comes Gold Hill Elementary School - ranked as the best public elementary school in South Carolina. With 839 students and a student to teacher ratio of 14:1, the school is right inline with the typical US elementary school ratio which can equate to greater focus per student and often lead to better student learning outcomes. Gold Hill Elementary wins out amongst nearly 635 other traditional public schools in the state (632).

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in South Carolina

Some ask if charter schools in South Carolina are a good option? This really depends on your preference and what you are looking for specifically but with more than 50 different options (50 to be exact) there are numerous potential fits for your youngster. Although far less prevalent than their traditional public school counterparts, they do make up 5% of all public schools within the state - which is commendable given there are only 1034 elementary schools across all types throughout SC as a whole. On average charter elementary schools score slightly below a B– grade although this is probably due to there being 0% more charter schools per capita than any other state - meaning there is actually an abundance of high-quality options available here compared to many other states.

What is the best charter elementary school in South Carolina?

The top ranked charter elementary school in South Carolina is Green Charter School located near Greenville. It’s known for its strong educational background and resources which help students strive for their best - showing off with an A grade on their report card each year. The school has 975 students and as you’d expect its student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1 which is right inline with other US elementary schools nationwide.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in South Carolina

Despite having just 978 total public schools across all types throughout SC as a whole (which isn't much more than New York City alone), there are 41 magnet elementary schools scattered throughout different cities - placing South Carolina 13th spot for magnet schools per capita nationwide.

Top 25 Best Elementary Schools in South Carolina

Search for the best elementary schools in South Carolina

#1 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Christ Church Episcopal School

Greenville, SC

episcopal

School Status

1,201

Students

10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-12

Grade Levels

#2 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

Columbia, SC

episcopal

School Status

838

Students

9:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-12

Grade Levels

#3 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Hammond School

Columbia, SC

private

School Status

999

Students

11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-12

Grade Levels

#4 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Porter-Gaud School

Charleston, SC

episcopal

School Status

1,059

Students

10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

1-12

Grade Levels

#5 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Hilton Head Preparatory School

Hilton Head Island, SC

private

School Status

436

Students

10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-12

Grade Levels

#6 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Spartanburg Day School

Spartanburg, SC

private

School Status

440

Students

8:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-12

Grade Levels

#7 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Gold Hill Elementary School

Tega Cay, SC

public

School Status

839

Students

14:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-5

Grade Levels

#8 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Green Charter School

Greenville, SC

charter

School Status

975

Students

14:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-12

Grade Levels

#9 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Tega Cay Elementary School

Tega Cay, SC

public

School Status

711

Students

13:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-5

Grade Levels

#10 Best Elementary School in Carolina

Springfield Elementary School

Fort Mill, SC

public

School Status

782

Students

12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

K-5

Grade Levels

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