Needs Improvement
#1162 of 1,176 schools in SC
A. R. Rucker Middle
Middle School · Lancaster 01 · Lancaster, SC
A Lancaster 01 middle school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.
422 Old Dixie Road, Lancaster, SC 29720
- Math 11% proficient (2022)
- Reading 24% proficient (2022)
- 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at A. R. Rucker Middle score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. SC average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 9 points since 2019, to 18% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where A. R. Rucker Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Charlotte map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 17Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High7,243/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lancaster), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$59,039
Median home value
$212,800
Median rent
$845/mo
College educated
22.2%
Homeownership
77.7%
Poverty rate
17.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29720; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | PK–12 | 1.9 mi | 198 | Compare → |
| South MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 2.8 | 6–8 | 2.7 mi | 492 | Compare → |
| Andrew Jackson MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | 6–8 | Not available | 458 | Compare → |
| Buford MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | 6–8 | Not available | 368 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Lancaster 01
- Schools in district
- 23
- Rank in district
- #22 of 22
- District spending per student
- $12,216NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
A. R. Rucker Middle is listed in Lancaster 01; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About A. R. Rucker Middle
A. R. Rucker Middle is a public middle school in Lancaster, SC, part of Lancaster 01, serving approximately 513 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,162 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about A. R. Rucker Middle
What grades does A. R. Rucker Middle serve?
A. R. Rucker Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend A. R. Rucker Middle?
A. R. Rucker Middle has an enrollment of approximately 513 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at A. R. Rucker Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at A. R. Rucker Middle is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does A. R. Rucker Middle rank in SC?
A. R. Rucker Middle ranks #1,162 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is A. R. Rucker Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
A. R. Rucker Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at A. R. Rucker Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, A. R. Rucker Middle has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is A. R. Rucker Middle a charter school?
No, A. R. Rucker Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is A. R. Rucker Middle a Title I school?
No, A. R. Rucker Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for A. R. Rucker Middle?
100.0% of students at A. R. Rucker Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 513
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Lancaster County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.1%
- Phone
- (803) 416-8555
- Area population (ZIP 29720)
- 51,603
- Area average commute
- 30 min
- Area median age
- 41.3
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 29720; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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