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Excellent

#19 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 2% in state

Buist Academy

Middle School · Charleston 01

103 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401

Enrollment

537

Student-Teacher

15.8:1

Score

8.9

Grades

3rd – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#19 of 1,176

In Charleston

#2 of 31

public schools

In district

#2 of 79

Charleston 01

Academic performance

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Buist Academy

8.9/10

Middle School in Charleston · grades 3rd – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Charleston Progressive

5.5/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Ne Miles Early Childhood Development Center

Nearby

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Buist Academy

Buist Academy is a public middle school in Charleston, SC, part of Charleston 01. Buist Academy serves approximately 537 students, and covers grades 3rd-8th, and has a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Buist Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #19 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Buist Academy show 95% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 95% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.8 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.1
  • SC avg 5.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.56 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendStable
Academics9.7Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency91% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency96% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency94% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)72% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+21.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile96th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,635
Chronic Absenteeism6.1%

Buist Academy — Students at Buist Academy score 94% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 72%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

21.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 94.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 95.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
99.5%
ELA
99.5%
2010
Math
99.5%
ELA
96%
2011
Math
97%
ELA
99.5%
2012
Math
99.5%
ELA
98%
2013
Math
99.5%
ELA
99.5%
2014
Math
91%
ELA
86%
2015
Math
93%
ELA
95%
2016
Math
92%
ELA
94%
2017
Math
92%
ELA
93%
2018
Math
91%
ELA
91%
2019
Math
91%
ELA
91%
2020*
Math
94%
ELA
96%
2021*
Math
94%
ELA
96%
2022
Math
91%
ELA
96%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.5/10.

How Buist Academy Compares

See how Buist Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.9/10
99th percentile in SC
Academic
9.7/10
Excellent
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
21%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
6.1%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

103 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Buist Academy may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Compass Collegiate Academy (rated 8.2/10, 1.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is SUNDROPS MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 2.7 miles away, in nearby Mount Pleasant), a more accessible option. Additionally, FIRST BAPTIST SCHOOL OF CHARLESTON (rated 7.0/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Charleston, see our Charleston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Charleston Progressive Charleston 0.4 mi 5.5
NE MILES EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Charleston 0.4 mi
Memminger Elementary Charleston 0.5 mi 6.0
CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL Charleston 0.6 mi 6.9
ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL Charleston 0.7 mi 6.5
FIRST BAPTIST SCHOOL OF CHARLESTON Charleston 0.9 mi 7.0
Sanders-Clyde Elementary Charleston 1.0 mi 4.8
MASON PREPARATORY SCHOOL Charleston 1.0 mi 6.2
Mitchell Elementary Charleston 1.0 mi 3.9
HARVEST TIME INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY Charleston 1.2 mi
Compass Collegiate Academy Charleston 1.2 mi 8.2
THE CHARLESTON CATHOLIC SCHOOL Charleston 1.3 mi 6.8
Simmons Pinckney Middle Charleston 1.3 mi 5.1
James Simons Montessori Charleston 1.4 mi 6.4
Burke High Charleston 1.3 mi 6.9
Charleston Development Academy Charleston 1.3 mi 4.9
Charleston Charter School for Math and Science Charleston 1.5 mi 7.0
PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL Charleston 2.1 mi 5.9
OAK GROVE MONTESSORI Charleston 2.6 mi
SUNDROPS MONTESSORI SCHOOL Mount Pleasant 2.7 mi 7.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29401 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,074

Median Home Value

$1,165,900

Median Rent

$1,838/mo

Population

9,210

College Educated

75.1%

Homeownership

57.4%

Avg Commute

14.7 min

Poverty Rate

17.7%

Median Age

34.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Southwood Academy for the Arts Anderson, SC 8.7
Tall Pines STEM Academy Aiken, SC 8.0
Forest Creek Middle Fort Mill, SC 7.9
Fort Mill Middle Fort Mill, SC 7.9
Banks Trail Middle Fort Mill, SC 7.8
McCants Middle Anderson, SC 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Buist Academy

What grades does Buist Academy serve?

Buist Academy serves students in grades 3rd through 8th.

How many students attend Buist Academy?

Buist Academy has an enrollment of approximately 537 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Buist Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Buist Academy is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Buist Academy rank in SC?

Buist Academy ranks #19 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Buist Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Buist Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Buist Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Buist Academy has 95% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 95% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Buist Academy a charter school?

No, Buist Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Buist Academy a Title I school?

No, Buist Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Buist Academy?

21.4% of students at Buist Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
97 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
49 Some Transit
Bike Score
83 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
3rd – 8th
Enrollment
537
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
21.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Charleston County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
6.1%

District

Charleston 01
District Enrollment
50,400
Schools in District
82
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,635
District Rank
#2 of 79

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