Laurens Elementary

Summary:

Laurens Elementary is a public elementary school serving 504 students in grades PK-5 in Laurens, South Carolina, which is part of the Laurens 55 school district. While the school has a diverse student population, with a higher percentage of African American and Hispanic students compared to nearby schools, it has consistently ranked in the bottom half of South Carolina elementary schools and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Laurens Elementary struggles, with lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics compared to state and district averages, as well as nearby schools like Waterloo Elementary and Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle. The school's performance is particularly low for African American and low-income students, ranking in the bottom 25% of South Carolina elementary schools for these subgroups. Despite relatively low student-teacher ratios and high per-student spending, these factors do not seem to translate into better academic outcomes for Laurens Elementary.

The challenges faced by Laurens Elementary present an opportunity for the school and Laurens 55 district to identify and address the root causes of the academic struggles, potentially through targeted interventions, professional development for teachers, or other evidence-based strategies. By addressing the unique needs of the school's diverse student population, Laurens Elementary may be able to improve its academic performance and provide a better educational experience for its students.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 301 Henry Street
       Laurens, SC  29360


(864) 984-3067

District: Laurens 55

SchoolDigger Rank:
447th of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,191 Help


Students who attend Laurens Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Laurens Middle
High:    Laurens District 55 High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.8 Help
Number of students:  499

Racial breakdown:

White:
44.5%
African American:
41.5%
Hispanic:
9.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Laurens Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Laurens Elementary ranks worse than 70.1% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 3rd among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Laurens 55 School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.73. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (44.5%), African American (41.5%), Hispanic (9.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Laurens 55 School District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Laurens Elementary is 13.8. 4 elementary schools in the Laurens 55 School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Laurens Elementary employs 36 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Laurens Elementary is $12,191. 4 elementary schools in the Laurens 55 School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Laurens Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurens Elementary 447th of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See Laurens 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:
White students:


Laurens 55:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurens 55 63rd of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Laurens Elementary?

Rank History for Laurens Elementary

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Laurens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 45.67 327th 542 39.7%
2004 60.11 229th 550 58.4%
2005 63.14 224th 557 59.8%
2006 48.97 319th 559 42.9%
2007 42.73 372nd 566 34.3%
2008 48.45 341st 577 40.9%
2009 57.21 261st 580 55.0%
2010 42.27 370th 589 37.2%
2011 33.89 441st 597 26.1%
2012 41.74 391st 594 34.2%
2013 43.24 371st 599 38.1%
2014 62.65 243rd 630 61.4%
2015 46.82 343rd 638 46.2%
2016 51.55 301st 619 51.4%
2017 51.96 303rd 639 52.6%
2018 52.27 288th 624 53.8%
2019 50.36 318th 643 50.5%
2021 25.63 457th 622 26.5%
2022 28.05 450th 625 28.0%
2023 22.73 508th 644 21.1%
2024 29.73 447th 638 29.9%
See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Laurens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.00 259th 588 56.0%
2019 54.40 286th 600 52.3%
2021 21.72 469th 580 19.1%
2022 21.12 495th 600 17.5%
2023 12.56 570th 608 6.3%
2024 17.31 524th 599 12.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Laurens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.91 290th 570 49.1%
2019 46.14 326th 588 44.6%
2021 20.94 447th 554 19.3%
2022 26.75 423rd 573 26.2%
2023 16.56 506th 580 12.8%
2024 28.72 413th 565 26.9%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Laurens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.47 41st 161 74.5%
2019 71.40 38th 189 79.9%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Laurens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.16 259th 571 54.6%
2019 50.34 300th 590 49.2%
2021 27.96 412th 561 26.6%
2022 28.00 421st 579 27.3%
2023 29.15 416th 582 28.5%
2024 29.29 408th 568 28.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Laurens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.48 137th 412 66.7%
2019 65.46 123rd 421 70.8%
2021 15.98 330th 350 5.7%
2022 22.57 336th 393 14.5%
2023 16.44 366th 394 7.1%
2024 21.18 331st 369 10.3%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Laurens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.24 288th 457 37.0%
2019 44.72 284th 472 39.8%
2021 31.54 314th 439 28.5%
2022 35.11 311th 455 31.6%
2023 38.34 308th 463 33.5%
2024 45.98 261st 441 40.8%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary 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.

Laurens Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Laurens Elementary.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Laurens Elementary, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Laurens Elementary

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 324 427 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 751
1989 320 411 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 732
1990 341 427 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 769
1991 353 400 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 753
1992 345 412 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 757
1993 357 438 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 795
1994 300 396 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 697
1995 287 368 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 655
1996 287 368 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 655
1997 278 391 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 672
1998 251 365 0 6 0 n/a n/a 0 622
1999 265 371 1 5 0 n/a n/a 0 642
2000 320 393 0 18 0 n/a n/a 0 731
2001 417 414 0 19 0 n/a n/a 0 850
2002 334 337 1 21 0 n/a n/a 1 694
2003 334 337 1 21 0 n/a n/a 1 694
2004 351 322 0 16 0 n/a n/a 1 690
2005 332 301 0 19 0 n/a n/a 4 656
2006 306 269 0 12 0 n/a n/a 5 592
2007 309 285 0 17 0 n/a n/a 0 611
2008 309 296 0 26 0 n/a n/a 6 637
2009 319 304 0 28 0 n/a n/a 11 662
2010 332 299 0 26 0 n/a n/a 14 671
2011 328 269 0 46 0 1 16 0 660
2012 309 285 0 47 0 0 17 0 658
2013 304 263 0 48 0 0 21 0 636
2014 331 292 0 48 0 0 19 0 690
2015 339 305 0 40 0 0 18 0 702
2016 349 318 4 37 0 0 18 0 726
2017 334 326 5 40 1 0 15 0 721
2018 317 309 5 46 1 0 16 0 694
2019 285 304 3 39 2 0 11 0 644
2020 283 259 2 41 0 0 8 0 593
2021 235 238 5 38 0 0 7 0 523
2022 243 217 3 39 0 0 11 0 513
2023 238 206 2 44 0 0 14 0 504
2024 222 207 2 49 0 1 18 0 499

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 Laurens Elementary

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 751 34.8 21.5 n/a
1989 732 38.9 18.8 n/a
1990 769 40.1 19.1 n/a
1991 753 39.5 19.0 42.1
1992 757 40.4 18.7 53.1
1993 795 41.0 19.4 54.7
1994 697 39.0 17.9 50.2
1995 655 35.3 18.6 58.5
1996 655 35.3 18.6 58.5
1997 672 44.3 15.2 54.5
1998 622 44.3 14.0 56.3
1999 642 48.0 13.4 60
2000 731 47.0 15.6 50.6
2001 850 50.6 16.8 47.2
2002 694 45.6 15.2 55
2003 694 45.6 15.2 55
2004 690 41.8 16.5 56.5
2005 656 41.8 15.7 58.3
2006 592 40.8 14.5 56.6
2007 611 70.8 8.6 63
2008 637 40.0 15.9 62.4
2009 662 39.0 17.0 63.3
2010 671 34.0 19.7 66.5
2011 660 33.0 20.0 67
2012 658 33.0 19.9 71.1
2013 636 36.0 17.6 63.7
2014 690 40.4 17.0 69
2015 702 42.0 16.7 63.8
2016 726 42.0 17.2 72.5
2017 721 40.5 17.8 100
2018 694 41.8 16.6 100
2019 644 42.0 15.3 100
2020 593 40.0 14.8 100
2021 523 43.0 12.1 100
2022 513 34.0 15.0 100
2023 504 36.0 14.0 100
2024 499 36.0 13.8 100

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 Laurens Elementary

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 751 34.8 21.5 n/a
1989 732 38.9 18.8 n/a
1990 769 40.1 19.1 n/a
1991 753 39.5 19.0 42.1
1992 757 40.4 18.7 53.1
1993 795 41.0 19.4 54.7
1994 697 39.0 17.9 50.2
1995 655 35.3 18.6 58.5
1996 655 35.3 18.6 58.5
1997 672 44.3 15.2 54.5
1998 622 44.3 14.0 56.3
1999 642 48.0 13.4 60
2000 731 47.0 15.6 50.6
2001 850 50.6 16.8 47.2
2002 694 45.6 15.2 55
2003 694 45.6 15.2 55
2004 690 41.8 16.5 56.5
2005 656 41.8 15.7 58.3
2006 592 40.8 14.5 56.6
2007 611 70.8 8.6 63
2008 637 40.0 15.9 62.4
2009 662 39.0 17.0 63.3
2010 671 34.0 19.7 66.5
2011 660 33.0 20.0 67
2012 658 33.0 19.9 71.1
2013 636 36.0 17.6 63.7
2014 690 40.4 17.0 69
2015 702 42.0 16.7 63.8
2016 726 42.0 17.2 72.5
2017 721 40.5 17.8 100
2018 694 41.8 16.6 100
2019 644 42.0 15.3 100
2020 593 40.0 14.8 100
2021 523 43.0 12.1 100
2022 513 34.0 15.0 100
2023 504 36.0 14.0 100
2024 499 36.0 13.8 100

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 Laurens Elementary

Help

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 $607 (6.3%) $222 (2.3%) $830 (8.6%) $7,002 (72.8%) $1,790 (18.6%) $8,792 (91.4%) $9,621
2020 $624 (6.1%) $201 (2.0%) $825 (8.0%) $7,631 (74.1%) $1,845 (17.9%) $9,476 (92.0%) $10,301
2021 $644 (6.0%) $326 (3.1%) $969 (9.1%) $8,097 (75.8%) $1,610 (15.1%) $9,707 (90.9%) $10,676
2022 $1,064 (8.6%) $777 (6.3%) $1,840 (14.8%) $8,773 (70.6%) $1,808 (14.6%) $10,581 (85.2%) $12,421
2023 $1,159 (9.5%) $697 (5.7%) $1,856 (15.2%) $8,426 (69.1%) $1,908 (15.7%) $10,334 (84.8%) $12,191

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Laurens 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 318th of 643 Elementary schoolsRanks 508th of 644 Elementary schools
 29.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Laurens Elementary)41.440.4
 1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Laurens 55)33.533.5
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)49.753.5
 3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Laurens Elementary)52.450
 2.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Laurens 55)37.637
 0.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)57.753.6
 4.1%
4th Grade Science (Laurens Elementary)59.824.3
 35.5%
   4th Grade Science (Laurens 55)40.134.2
 5.9%
   4th Grade Science (South Carolina)5246.6
 5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Laurens Elementary)5432.8
 21.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Laurens 55)4041.1
 1.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)51.357.2
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Laurens Elementary)55.925.7
 30.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Laurens 55)2932.5
 3.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)50.547
 3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Laurens Elementary)28.540.3
 11.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Laurens 55)27.939.1
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4155.2
 14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Laurens Elementary)42.226
 16.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Laurens 55)28.628.8
 0.2%
   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 Students644504
 21.7%
African American304206
 32.2%
American Indian20
 100%
Asian32
 33.3%
Hispanic3944
 12.8%
Pacific Islander00
White285238
 16.5%
Two or More Races1114
 27.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Laurens Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Laurens Elementary

Students who attend Laurens Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Laurens Middle
High : Laurens District 55 High

Laurens Elementary ranks 447th of 638 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Laurens Elementary are 44% White, 41% African American, 10% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 499 students attended Laurens Elementary.


Rate Laurens Elementary!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Laurens Elementary!




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.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 22 milliseconds.