B. D. Lee Elementary

Summary:

B. D. Lee Elementary is a public elementary school in Gaffney, South Carolina, serving 607 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Cherokee 01 School District.

B. D. Lee Elementary faces significant challenges, with a student population that is 66.56% African American and 100% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high levels of economic disadvantage. The school consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of South Carolina elementary schools, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics that are significantly lower than state and district averages. Despite relatively high per-student spending of around $16,000, the school's academic performance has steadily declined over the past several years, from a ranking of 469 out of 638 schools in 2014-2015 to 633 out of 638 in 2023-2024. This suggests a persistent racial achievement gap, as the performance of African American students at B. D. Lee Elementary is significantly lower than the state and district averages.

In comparison, nearby schools such as Blacksburg Elementary, Northwest Elementary, and Corinth Elementary generally perform better academically, with higher proficiency rates and better statewide rankings. This highlights the unique challenges faced by B. D. Lee Elementary and the need for targeted interventions to address the underlying factors contributing to the school's low achievement, despite the relatively high level of funding.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 401 Overbrook Drive
       Gaffney, SC  29341


(864) 206-6432

District: Cherokee 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
633rd of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,181 Help


Students who attend B. D. Lee Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Gaffney Middle
High:    Gaffney High

Student/teacher ratio:  14.5 Help
Number of students:  607

Racial breakdown:

African American:
66.6%
White:
18.0%
Two or more races:
8.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

 Compare B. D. Lee Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details B. D. Lee Elementary ranks worse than 99.2% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 7th among 8 ranked elementary schools in the Cherokee 01 School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.85. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details B. D. Lee Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Cherokee 01 School District. Racial makeup is: African American (66.6%), White (18%), two or more races (8.2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at B. D. Lee Elementary is 14.5. 4 elementary schools in the Cherokee 01 School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare B. D. Lee Elementary employs 41.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at B. D. Lee Elementary is $16,181, which is the highest among 9 elementary schools in the Cherokee 01 School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

B. D. Lee Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks B. D. Lee Elementary 633rd of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See B. D. Lee Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Cherokee 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherokee 01 55th of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for B. D. Lee Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at B. D. Lee Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 48.22 307th 542 43.4%
2004 50.24 309th 550 43.8%
2005 44.91 350th 557 37.2%
2006 44.17 354th 559 36.7%
2007 31.31 443rd 566 21.7%
2008 23.87 491st 577 14.9%
2009 19.24 515th 580 11.2%
2010 15.29 546th 589 7.3%
2011 15.28 545th 597 8.7%
2012 10.29 559th 594 5.9%
2013 9.65 569th 599 5.0%
2014 21.40 553rd 630 12.2%
2015 31.12 469th 638 26.5%
2016 25.98 487th 619 21.3%
2017 24.56 495th 639 22.5%
2018 20.53 509th 624 18.4%
2019 18.84 533rd 643 17.1%
2021 12.58 551st 622 11.4%
2022 7.95 600th 625 4.0%
2023 5.21 638th 644 0.9%
2024 4.85 633rd 638 0.8%
See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at B. D. Lee Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.55 444th 588 24.5%
2019 22.58 499th 600 16.8%
2021 20.03 481st 580 17.1%
2022 11.32 568th 600 5.3%
2023 7.89 593rd 608 2.5%
2024 6.07 593rd 599 1.0%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at B. D. Lee Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.68 354th 570 37.9%
2019 13.16 532nd 588 9.5%
2021 26.06 415th 554 25.1%
2022 11.28 521st 573 9.1%
2023 5.54 568th 580 2.1%
2024 4.27 562nd 565 0.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at B. D. Lee Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.90 521st 571 8.8%
2019 36.50 387th 590 34.4%
2022 7.31 555th 579 4.1%
2023 6.15 565th 582 2.9%
2024 7.27 548th 568 3.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at B. D. Lee Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.35 232nd 412 43.7%
2019 41.84 261st 421 38.0%
2021 28.48 271st 350 22.6%
2022 21.06 345th 393 12.2%
2023 13.58 376th 394 4.6%
2024 8.90 365th 369 1.1%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for African American 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.

B. D. Lee Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

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Enrollment information for B. D. Lee Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 315 173 6 1 0 n/a n/a 0 495
1989 303 171 3 2 0 n/a n/a 0 479
1990 298 180 4 2 2 n/a n/a 0 486
1991 283 197 3 3 4 n/a n/a 0 490
1992 263 198 4 4 5 n/a n/a 0 474
1993 238 190 6 7 5 n/a n/a 0 446
1994 261 198 9 5 0 n/a n/a 0 473
1995 268 230 8 5 0 n/a n/a 0 511
1996 268 230 8 5 0 n/a n/a 0 511
1997 259 228 7 6 0 n/a n/a 0 500
1998 248 220 6 6 0 n/a n/a 0 480
1999 236 201 3 5 0 n/a n/a 0 445
2000 207 291 11 9 0 n/a n/a 0 518
2001 189 238 8 3 0 n/a n/a 0 438
2002 162 236 3 11 0 n/a n/a 0 412
2003 162 236 3 11 0 n/a n/a 0 412
2004 173 220 5 13 0 n/a n/a 1 412
2005 162 261 8 14 0 n/a n/a 0 445
2006 131 259 7 19 0 n/a n/a 0 416
2007 99 278 8 23 0 n/a n/a 0 408
2008 93 309 9 27 0 n/a n/a 1 439
2009 56 337 8 24 0 n/a n/a 1 426
2010 45 338 0 22 0 n/a n/a 2 407
2011 52 310 1 27 0 0 11 0 401
2012 51 280 5 25 0 0 13 0 374
2013 41 298 6 20 0 0 17 0 382
2014 33 274 7 19 0 0 10 0 343
2015 40 252 7 11 0 0 17 0 327
2016 41 247 5 13 0 0 14 0 320
2017 44 247 9 16 0 0 18 0 334
2018 51 265 5 16 0 0 11 0 348
2019 59 315 6 18 0 0 13 0 411
2020 82 295 5 22 0 0 9 0 413
2021 57 256 6 15 0 0 6 0 340
2022 99 393 7 32 0 0 30 0 561
2023 109 404 9 35 0 0 50 0 607

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 B. D. Lee Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 495 29.5 16.7 n/a
1989 479 28.6 16.7 n/a
1990 486 28.5 17.0 n/a
1991 490 30.4 16.1 31.4
1992 474 30.7 15.4 40.5
1993 446 31.0 14.4 42.2
1994 473 32.0 14.8 40.8
1995 511 31.0 16.5 50.9
1996 511 31.0 16.5 50.9
1997 500 32.0 15.6 47.2
1998 480 32.0 15.0 50
1999 445 31.0 14.4 59.8
2000 518 32.0 16.2 59.3
2001 438 27.0 16.2 58.4
2002 412 27.0 15.3 68.2
2003 412 27.0 15.3 68.2
2004 412 29.0 14.2 68.1
2005 445 26.0 17.1 77.1
2006 416 29.0 14.3 79.3
2007 408 40.0 10.2 81.1
2008 439 27.0 16.3 77.4
2009 426 26.0 16.4 87.1
2010 407 24.0 16.9 92.3
2011 401 24.0 16.7 91.3
2012 374 26.0 14.3 91.7
2013 382 26.5 14.4 87.4
2014 343 25.5 13.4 90.7
2015 327 25.0 13.0 98.5
2016 320 24.0 13.3 100
2017 334 23.7 14.0 100
2018 348 25.7 13.5 100
2019 411 28.7 14.3 100
2020 413 30.0 13.7 100
2021 340 27.0 12.5 100
2022 561 45.8 12.2 100
2023 607 41.8 14.5 100

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 B. D. Lee Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 495 29.5 16.7 n/a
1989 479 28.6 16.7 n/a
1990 486 28.5 17.0 n/a
1991 490 30.4 16.1 31.4
1992 474 30.7 15.4 40.5
1993 446 31.0 14.4 42.2
1994 473 32.0 14.8 40.8
1995 511 31.0 16.5 50.9
1996 511 31.0 16.5 50.9
1997 500 32.0 15.6 47.2
1998 480 32.0 15.0 50
1999 445 31.0 14.4 59.8
2000 518 32.0 16.2 59.3
2001 438 27.0 16.2 58.4
2002 412 27.0 15.3 68.2
2003 412 27.0 15.3 68.2
2004 412 29.0 14.2 68.1
2005 445 26.0 17.1 77.1
2006 416 29.0 14.3 79.3
2007 408 40.0 10.2 81.1
2008 439 27.0 16.3 77.4
2009 426 26.0 16.4 87.1
2010 407 24.0 16.9 92.3
2011 401 24.0 16.7 91.3
2012 374 26.0 14.3 91.7
2013 382 26.5 14.4 87.4
2014 343 25.5 13.4 90.7
2015 327 25.0 13.0 98.5
2016 320 24.0 13.3 100
2017 334 23.7 14.0 100
2018 348 25.7 13.5 100
2019 411 28.7 14.3 100
2020 413 30.0 13.7 100
2021 340 27.0 12.5 100
2022 561 45.8 12.2 100
2023 607 41.8 14.5 100

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 B. D. Lee 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 $1,103 (10.7%) $553 (5.4%) $1,655 (16.1%) $7,711 (74.9%) $922 (9.0%) $8,634 (83.9%) $10,289
2020 $1,966 (18.9%) $539 (5.2%) $2,505 (24.0%) $6,873 (66.0%) $1,039 (10.0%) $7,912 (76.0%) $10,417
2021 $2,500 (16.5%) $867 (5.7%) $3,367 (22.2%) $10,556 (69.7%) $1,224 (8.1%) $11,779 (77.8%) $15,146
2022 $2,873 (16.7%) $1,225 (7.1%) $4,098 (23.8%) $11,713 (67.9%) $1,432 (8.3%) $13,145 (76.2%) $17,243
2023 $1,463 (9.0%) $1,812 (11.2%) $3,276 (20.2%) $11,540 (71.3%) $1,365 (8.4%) $12,905 (79.8%) $16,181

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

Impact of COVID-19 on B. D. Lee 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 533rd of 643 Elementary schoolsRanks 638th of 644 Elementary schools
 16.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (B. D. Lee Elementary)28.625.1
 3.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cherokee 01)43.741.5
 2.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)49.753.5
 3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (B. D. Lee Elementary)5123.8
 27.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Cherokee 01)49.240.9
 8.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)57.753.6
 4.1%
4th Grade Science (B. D. Lee Elementary)25.19.4
 15.7%
   4th Grade Science (Cherokee 01)43.426.1
 17.3%
   4th Grade Science (South Carolina)5246.6
 5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (B. D. Lee Elementary)27.125.3
 1.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Cherokee 01)43.441
 2.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)51.357.2
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (B. D. Lee Elementary)18.813.4
 5.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Cherokee 01)38.426.8
 11.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)50.547
 3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (B. D. Lee Elementary)28.922.8
 6.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Cherokee 01)33.142.3
 9.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4155.2
 14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (B. D. Lee Elementary)22.28.6
 13.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Cherokee 01)32.824.5
 8.3%
   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 Students411607
 47.7%
African American315404
 28.3%
American Indian00
Asian69
 50%
Hispanic1835
 94.4%
Pacific Islander00
White59109
 84.7%
Two or More Races1350
 284.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near B. D. Lee Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about B. D. Lee Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 607 students attended B. D. Lee Elementary.

Students at B. D. Lee Elementary are 67% African American, 18% White, 8% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

Students who attend B. D. Lee Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Gaffney Middle
High : Gaffney High

B. D. Lee Elementary ranks in the bottom 0.8% of South Carolina elementary schools.


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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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