Summary:
The city of Saint Matthews, South Carolina is home to two schools: St. Matthews K-8 School, an elementary/middle school serving grades PK-8, and Calhoun County High, the only high school in the area. These schools serve a predominantly low-income, African American student population, with both having extremely high rates of free and reduced lunch recipients.
Academically, the schools face significant challenges. St. Matthews K-8 School consistently performs below the district and state averages on state assessments, ranking in the bottom half of elementary schools in South Carolina. Calhoun County High has mixed performance on end-of-course exams, with some subjects above and others below the district and state averages. The racial divide between the two schools is also notable, with St. Matthews K-8 School having a much higher percentage of African American students compared to Calhoun County High.
Despite the challenges, both schools are spending more per student than the state average, suggesting a focus on providing additional resources and support. However, the low academic performance indicates that these resources may not be effectively translating into improved student outcomes. Addressing the underlying socioeconomic and racial disparities, as well as implementing targeted interventions, could be key to improving educational opportunities for the students in Calhoun 01 district.
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