Summary:
The city of Olanta, South Carolina has only one public elementary school, Olanta Elementary, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade. Located in the Florence 03 school district, Olanta Elementary has a diverse student population but consistently underperforms compared to district and state averages on standardized tests.
Olanta Elementary's student body is 53.57% African American, 35.71% White, and 3.12% Hispanic, with high levels of economic disadvantage, as indicated by the school's 100% free and reduced-price lunch rate. The school's proficiency rates on the SC READY English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments, as well as the SCPASS Science assessment, are significantly lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels. Despite the school's relatively low student-teacher ratio of 11.7 to 1 and higher-than-average spending per student of $16,510, these investments have not translated into improved academic outcomes.
While Olanta Elementary faces significant challenges in educating its diverse and economically disadvantaged student population, the data suggests that there may be opportunities for improvement. The school's low student-teacher ratio could be leveraged to provide more personalized attention and support for students, potentially leading to better academic performance. However, a closer examination of the school's resource allocation and instructional practices may be necessary to identify the root causes of its consistent underperformance and develop effective strategies to support student success.
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