Needs Improvement
#1159 of 1,176 schools in SC
Bethune-bowman Elementary
Elementary School · Orangeburg · Rowesville, SC
An Orangeburg elementary school where students score 22 points below what's typical for similar communities.
4857 Charleston Highway, Rowesville, SC 29133
- Math 12% proficient (2022)
- Reading 17% proficient (2022)
- 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bethune-bowman Elementary score 14% 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 10 points since 2020, to 15% in 2022, across a 3-year record (2020–2022).
Show all 3 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 21% (multi-year average, 2020-2022) · reading/ELA 17% (2022 EdFacts)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 4 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 Bethune-bowman 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: High3,220/100K
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
$43,281
Median home value
$128,600
Median rent
$732/mo
College educated
8.4%
Homeownership
73.2%
Poverty rate
14.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29133; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Orangeburg
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookdale ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 245 | Compare → |
| Holly Hill ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | PK–5 | Not available | 342 | Compare → |
| Lockett ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | PK–5 | Not available | 236 | Compare → |
| St. James-gaillard ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–5 | Not available | 237 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Orangeburg
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #24 of 26
- District spending per student
- $16,571NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 26.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bethune-bowman Elementary is listed in Orangeburg; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bethune-bowman Elementary
Bethune-bowman Elementary is a public elementary school in Rowesville, SC, part of Orangeburg, serving approximately 271 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,159 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2022) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (2022 EdFacts).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bethune-bowman Elementary
What grades does Bethune-bowman Elementary serve?
Bethune-bowman Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Bethune-bowman Elementary?
Bethune-bowman Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 271 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bethune-bowman Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bethune-bowman Elementary is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bethune-bowman Elementary rank in SC?
Bethune-bowman Elementary ranks #1,159 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is Bethune-bowman Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bethune-bowman Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.7 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 Bethune-bowman Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bethune-bowman Elementary has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2022) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (2022 EdFacts).
Is Bethune-bowman Elementary a charter school?
No, Bethune-bowman Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bethune-bowman Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bethune-bowman Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bethune-bowman Elementary?
100.0% of students at Bethune-bowman 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
- 271
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Orangeburg County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.5%
- Phone
- (803) 533-6371
- Area population (ZIP 29133)
- 1,198
- Area median age
- 37.5
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 29133; 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, 2020-2022, 2022 EdFacts; directory SY 2023–24
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