Is Southwood Academy for the Arts a good school?

Yes! Southwood Academy for the Arts is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 11 th of 325 South Carolina middle schools.

How many students attend Southwood Academy for the Arts?

In the 2023-24 school year, 389 students attended Southwood Academy for the Arts.

What is the racial makeup of Southwood Academy for the Arts?

Students at Southwood Academy for the Arts are 62% White, 23% African American, 10% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Southwood Academy for the Arts

Summary:

Southwood Academy for the Arts is a public middle school in Anderson, South Carolina, serving 394 students in grades 6-8. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top 15 middle schools in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and impressive academic performance that exceeds district and state averages.

Southwood Academy for the Arts stands out for its strong support of diverse student populations. The school ranks among the top 3-8 middle schools in South Carolina for African American, White, and low-socioeconomic students, demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusion. However, the school's performance for gifted and talented students is relatively lower, suggesting an area for improvement. With a diverse student body of 65.48% White, 21.32% African American, 7.11% Hispanic, and 1.78% Asian, Southwood Academy for the Arts is more racially diverse than many nearby schools in the Anderson 05 district.

Southwood Academy for the Arts stands out for its efficient resource allocation, with a relatively high per-student spending of $17,138 and a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.6. This investment in personalized instruction and support has contributed to the school's consistent academic excellence, which has been maintained for the past 10 years. Compared to nearby schools like R. C. Edwards Middle, Wren Middle, and Honea Path Middle, Southwood Academy for the Arts is a standout institution in the region, serving as a model for other schools to emulate.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 6-8

1110 Southwood Street
Anderson, SC 29624

(864) 260-5205

District: Anderson 05

SchoolDigger Rank:
11^th of 325 South Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,138

Student/teacher ratio: 11.1

Number of students: 389

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.7%

African American:

22.9%

Hispanic:

9.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 55.3%

See top rated South Carolina middle schools

Compare Southwood Academy for the Arts to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Southwood Academy for the Arts ranks better than 96.6% of middle schools in South Carolina. It also ranks first among 4 ranked middle schools in the Anderson 05 School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.95. (See more...)

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

Compare Details Southwood Academy for the Arts has the smallest middle school student body size in the Anderson 05 School District. Racial makeup is: White (61.7%), African American (22.9%), Hispanic (9.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 55.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southwood Academy for the Arts is 11.1, which is the lowest among 4 middle schools in the Anderson 05 School District! (See more...)

Compare Southwood Academy for the Arts employs 35 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southwood Academy for the Arts is $17,138, which is the highest among 4 middle schools in the Anderson 05 School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Southwood Academy for the Arts:

SchoolDigger ranks Southwood Academy for the Arts 11^th of 325 South Carolina public middle schools. (See Southwood Academy for the Arts in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Anderson 05:

SchoolDigger ranks Anderson 05 20^th of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Southwood Academy for the Arts

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Rank History for all students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile
2014	92.69	11^th	291	96.2%
2015	91.67	15^th	301	95.0%
2016	89.03	25^th	303	91.7%
2017	94.31	17^th	317	94.6%
2018	96.20	14^th	303	95.4%
2019	97.48	12^th	315	96.2%
2021	97.90	10^th	311	96.8%
2022	95.17	14^th	310	95.5%
2023	97.66	12^th	325	96.3%
2024	97.95	11^th	325	96.6%

See the entire list of South Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	98.25	7^th	280	97.5%
2019	99.39	3^rd	289	99.0%
2021	99.41	3^rd	288	99.0%
2022	95.07	7^th	300	97.7%
2023	99.07	4^th	313	98.7%
2024	99.15	3^rd	307	99.0%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	94.68	13^th	281	95.4%
2019	96.96	7^th	296	97.6%
2021	96.61	11^th	279	96.1%
2022	94.63	13^th	290	95.5%
2023	96.48	13^th	299	95.7%
2024	97.72	8^th	294	97.3%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile
2021	41.50	128^th	179	28.5%
2022	19.41	162^nd	182	11.0%
2023	30.51	156^th	185	15.7%
2024	33.05	153^rd	183	16.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	97.49	11^th	284	96.1%
2019	95.08	16^th	296	94.6%
2021	96.57	13^th	279	95.3%
2022	93.66	18^th	292	93.8%
2023	98.16	8^th	303	97.4%
2024	96.02	13^th	294	95.6%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	99.07	4^th	237	98.3%
2019	99.46	3^rd	252	98.8%
2021	98.61	4^th	235	98.3%
2022	98.94	4^th	249	98.4%
2023	98.17	3^rd	253	98.8%
2024	99.25	3^rd	248	98.8%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	91.71	17^th	250	93.2%
2019	94.39	11^th	258	95.7%
2021	95.47	9^th	244	96.3%
2022	88.74	25^th	249	90.0%
2023	94.06	12^th	260	95.4%
2024	95.24	8^th	255	96.9%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle 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.

Data source: South Carolina State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Southwood Academy for the Arts

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2012	77	36	0	2	0	5	120
2013	163	59	0	5	0	11	238
2014	251	77	1	9	0	15	353
2015	255	65	3	13	0	14	350
2016	223	62	2	9	1	9	306
2017	242	79	3	13	1	12	350
2018	236	78	5	16	1	10	346
2019	244	74	3	24	0	16	361
2020	244	79	4	27	0	19	373
2021	252	77	4	26	0	24	383
2022	244	86	5	24	0	21	380
2023	258	84	7	28	0	17	394
2024	240	89	5	38	0	17	389

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 Southwood Academy for the Arts

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	120	11.0	10.9	39.2
2013	238	20.5	11.6	42.4
2014	353	26.0	13.5	41.6
2015	350	32.0	10.9	36.3
2016	306	28.0	10.9	36.3
2017	350	32.0	10.9	40.9
2018	346	40.0	8.6	39
2019	361	32.0	11.2	46
2020	373	37.0	10.0	44
2021	383	31.5	12.1	46
2022	380	34.3	11.0	43.7
2023	394	37.0	10.6	57.4
2024	389	35.0	11.1	55.3

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 Southwood Academy for the Arts

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	120	11.0	10.9	39.2
2013	238	20.5	11.6	42.4
2014	353	26.0	13.5	41.6
2015	350	32.0	10.9	36.3
2016	306	28.0	10.9	36.3
2017	350	32.0	10.9	40.9
2018	346	40.0	8.6	39
2019	361	32.0	11.2	46
2020	373	37.0	10.0	44
2021	383	31.5	12.1	46
2022	380	34.3	11.0	43.7
2023	394	37.0	10.6	57.4
2024	389	35.0	11.1	55.3

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 Southwood Academy for the Arts

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$444 (3.7%)	$339 (2.8%)	$783 (6.6%)	$9,772 (82.2%)	$1,340 (11.3%)	$11,112 (93.4%)	$11,895
2020	$803 (6.1%)	$450 (3.4%)	$1,253 (9.5%)	$10,581 (79.8%)	$1,424 (10.7%)	$12,005 (90.6%)	$13,257
2021	$817 (6.0%)	$372 (2.7%)	$1,189 (8.7%)	$10,885 (79.5%)	$1,616 (11.8%)	$12,501 (91.3%)	$13,690
2022	$606 (4.2%)	$458 (3.2%)	$1,065 (7.4%)	$11,685 (81.6%)	$1,575 (11.0%)	$13,261 (92.6%)	$14,326
2023	$531 (3.1%)	$702 (4.1%)	$1,232 (7.2%)	$13,256 (77.3%)	$2,650 (15.5%)	$15,906 (92.8%)	$17,138

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southwood Academy for the Arts

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 12^th of 315 Middle schools	Ranks 12^th of 325 Middle schools	0.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade Science (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	77.7	66.2	11.5%
6th Grade Science (Anderson 05)	43.4	47.6	4.2%
6th Grade Science (South Carolina)	47.1	43	4.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	69.7	84.3	14.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Anderson 05)	38.2	59.3	21.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)	41.1	53.4	12.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	85.7	79.7	6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Anderson 05)	47.4	48.6	1.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)	43.9	36.7	7.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	86.4	88.2	1.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Anderson 05)	47.3	52.3	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)	44	50.1	6.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	65.7	71.9	6.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Anderson 05)	43.5	39.7	3.8%
7th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)	35.3	31	4.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	79.2	84.6	5.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Anderson 05)	45.1	58.6	13.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)	44.5	53.1	8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	77.4	70.2	7.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Anderson 05)	42.6	40.3	2.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)	36.6	31.6	5%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Southwood Academy for the Arts)	99.9	100	0.1%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Anderson 05)	65	73.3	8.3%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Carolina)	68.6	68.3	0.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	361	394	9.1%
African American	74	84	13.5%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	7	133.3%
Hispanic	24	28	16.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	244	258	5.7%
Two or More Races	16	17	6.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	46%	57.4%	11.4%

Schools Near Southwood Academy for the Arts

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SC READY English Language Arts (2024)			SC READY Mathematics (2024)			EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Southwood Academy for the Arts	Public, Magnet	6-8	1110 Southwood Street	Anderson	29624	Anderson County	Anderson 05	No	Yes	No	No	(864) 260-5205	389	35	11.1	55.3%	240 (61.7%)	89 (22.9%)	38 (9.8%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.4%)	98	11^th of 325 public middle schools	96.6%		97.7	12^th of 325 public middle schools	96.3%	1	78.0	82.3	83.8	72.7	77.4	75.3	100.0	$17,138	$531	$702	$1,232	$13,256	$2,650	$15,906
Robert Anderson Middle	Public	6-8	2302 Dobbins Bridge Road	Anderson	29626	Anderson County	Anderson 05	No	No	No	No	(864) 716-3890	1,176	92	12.7	100.0%	402 (34.2%)	495 (42.1%)	174 (14.8%)	7 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	96 (8.2%)	29.5	229^th of 325 public middle schools	29.5%		36.2	203^rd of 325 public middle schools	37.5%	26	43.5	37.5	30.7	29.7	27.5	16.9	100.0	$10,801	$906	$505	$1,411	$8,297	$1,093	$9,389
McCants Middle	Public	6-8	2123 Marchbanks Avenue	Anderson	29621	Anderson County	Anderson 05	No	No	No	No	(864) 260-5145	561	43	13.1	52.8%	325 (57.9%)	138 (24.6%)	40 (7.1%)	10 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (8.4%)	90.6	25^th of 325 public middle schools	92.3%		88	34^th of 325 public middle schools	89.5%	9	72.0	67.3	62.8	64.5	59.8	54.5	98.9	$12,055	$764	$519	$1,282	$9,416	$1,358	$10,773
Glenview Middle	Public	6-8	2575 Old Williamston Road	Anderson	29621	Anderson County	Anderson 05	No	No	No	No	(864) 716-4060	667	51	13.1	64.0%	326 (48.9%)	224 (33.6%)	45 (6.7%)	12 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (9.0%)	66	94^th of 325 public middle schools	71.1%		71.6	80^th of 325 public middle schools	75.4%	14	56.7	51.7	47.7	49.5	41.9	39.2	100.0	$11,402	$760	$647	$1,408	$8,698	$1,297	$9,994
Starr-Iva Middle	Public	6-8	1034 Rainey Road	Starr	29684	Anderson County	Anderson 03	No	No	No	No	(864) 352-6146	606	42	14.4	61.4%	463 (76.4%)	57 (9.4%)	44 (7.3%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (5.9%)	78.5	62^nd of 325 public middle schools	80.9%		65.3	98^th of 325 public middle schools	69.8%	36	65.4	61.6	58.4	47.4	39.0	53.3	100.0	$10,427	$898	$652	$1,550	$7,936	$942	$8,878
Belton Middle	Public	6-8	102 Cherokee Road	Belton	29627	Anderson County	Anderson 02	No	No	No	No	(864) 369-4712	458	34	13.4	69.7%	313 (68.3%)	85 (18.6%)	37 (8.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.6%)	54.9	131^st of 325 public middle schools	59.7%		63.8	104^th of 325 public middle schools	68.0%	27	56.2	45.3	50.4	56.2	25.2	24.6	100.0	$9,923	$929	$576	$1,506	$7,266	$1,151	$8,417
Riverside Middle	Public	7-8	458 Riverside Street	Pendleton	29670	Anderson County	Anderson 04	No	No	No	No	(864) 403-2200	429	33	13.0	64.1%	311 (72.5%)	64 (14.9%)	25 (5.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.3%)	87.5	38^th of 325 public middle schools	88.3%		86	40^th of 325 public middle schools	87.7%	2		65.4	63.6		53.0	49.7	97.4	$13,280	$680	$1,290	$1,970	$9,450	$1,860	$11,310
Palmetto Middle	Public	6-8	803 North Hamilton Street	Williamston	29697	Anderson County	Anderson 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 847-4333	770	56	13.8	64.8%	548 (71.2%)	57 (7.4%)	125 (16.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (4.8%)	75.7	67^th of 325 public middle schools	79.4%		79.6	62^nd of 325 public middle schools	80.9%	5	61.8	57.9	61.4	42.5	46.5	42.0	100.0	$9,652	$699	$442	$1,141	$7,526	$985	$8,510
Honea Path Middle	Public	6-8	107 Brock Avenue	Honea Path	29654	Anderson County	Anderson 02	No	No	No	No	(864) 369-7641	313	25	12.5	64.2%	254 (81.2%)	31 (9.9%)	6 (1.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.7%)	79.8	58^th of 325 public middle schools	82.2%		80.2	59^th of 325 public middle schools	81.8%	1	67.0	60.0	63.8	52.2	47.0	37.1	100.0	$12,865	$1,864	$756	$2,620	$8,664	$1,580	$10,245
Wren Middle	Public	6-8	1010 Wren School Road	Piedmont	29673	Greenville County	Anderson 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 850-5930	923	58	15.8	46.4%	739 (80.1%)	72 (7.8%)	69 (7.5%)	7 (0.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (3.7%)	82.6	53^rd of 325 public middle schools	83.7%		86.5	37^th of 325 public middle schools	88.6%	16	66.2	65.8	60.3	55.8	59.6	35.6	95.1	$8,987	$460	$472	$932	$7,125	$930	$8,055

Southwood Academy for the Arts

Southwood Academy for the Arts:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Anderson 05:

What do you think?

Rank History for Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rank History for all students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rank History for Female students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rank History for Male students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rank History for African American students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rank History for White students at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Enrollment information for Southwood Academy for the Arts

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southwood Academy for the Arts

Student/Teacher Ratio Southwood Academy for the Arts

Per Pupil Expenditures for Southwood Academy for the Arts

Impact of COVID-19 on Southwood Academy for the Arts

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Southwood Academy for the Arts