Needs Improvement
#1111 of 1,176 schools in SC
Bells Elementary
Elementary School · Colleton 01 · Ruffin, SC
A Colleton 01 elementary school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
12088 Bells Highway, Ruffin, SC 29475
- Math 22% proficient (2022)
- Reading 27% proficient (2022)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bells Elementary score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. SC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 53 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 25% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 37% (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 Bells Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 10Car-Dependent
- Bike 30Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: High1,585/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$42,357
Median home value
$79,500
Median rent
$927/mo
College educated
14.8%
Homeownership
83.8%
Poverty rate
16.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29475; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.5private | K–12 | 3.7 mi | 35 | Compare → |
| Black Street Early Childhood CenterEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | PK–K | Not available | 328 | Compare → |
| Cottageville ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 475 | Compare → |
| Forest Hills ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.0 | 1–5 | Not available | 463 | 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.
Colleton 01
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #3 of 8
- District spending per student
- $14,940NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 26.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bells Elementary is listed in Colleton 01; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bells Elementary
Bells Elementary is a public elementary school in Ruffin, SC, part of Colleton 01, serving approximately 278 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,111 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bells Elementary
What grades does Bells Elementary serve?
Bells Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Bells Elementary?
Bells Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 278 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bells Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bells Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bells Elementary rank in SC?
Bells Elementary ranks #1,111 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is Bells Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bells Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 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 Bells Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bells Elementary has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Bells Elementary a charter school?
No, Bells Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bells Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bells Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bells Elementary?
100.0% of students at Bells Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 278
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Colleton County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.9%
- Phone
- (843) 782-0012
- Area population (ZIP 29475)
- 2,676
- Area median age
- 39.8
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 29475; 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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