Best Public Schools in Zip Code 29809

The 29809 zip code area in South Carolina is home to two schools - Greendale Elementary and New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle. While both serve students in the local community, the data analysis suggests that New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle is the standout school in this area, outperforming Greendale Elementary across several key metrics.

New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle is ranked 127 out of 325 South Carolina middle schools and has a 3-star rating, compared to Greendale Elementary's ranking of 464 out of 638 elementary schools. The middle school also boasts significantly higher test scores than the district and state averages, with 66% of 6th graders proficient or better in ELA, compared to 47.3% for the Aiken 01 district and 53.7% statewide. Additionally, New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle serves a relatively more advantaged student population, with a lower percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients (61.75%) compared to Greendale Elementary (100%), and spends more per student ($12,550) than Greendale Elementary ($11,873).

While Greendale Elementary has a lower student-teacher ratio of 10.4 compared to 13.2 at New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle, this does not appear to be translating into better academic outcomes. The significant difference in test scores between the two schools suggests that New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle may be providing a higher-quality education to its students, potentially due to its focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and the additional resources available to the school.