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Average

#873 of 1,176 schools in SC

Forts Pond Elementary

Elementary School · Lexington 01

7350 Fish Hatchery Road, Pelion, SC 29123

Enrollment

505

Student-Teacher

11.7:1

Score

5.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#873 of 1,176

In Pelion

#2 of 4

public schools

In district

#22 of 30

Lexington 01

School environment

7.1 / 10

Very Good

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Forts Pond Elementary

5.0/10

Elementary School in Pelion · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Pelion Middle

3.6/10

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

Pelion High

7.7/10

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

About Forts Pond Elementary

Forts Pond Elementary is a public elementary school in Pelion, SC, part of Lexington 01. Forts Pond Elementary serves approximately 505 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Forts Pond Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #873 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Forts Pond Elementary show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.5 pts below district
  • This school 5.0 · Average
  • District avg 6.5
  • SC avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Forts Pond Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

31% of students at Forts Pond Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.0Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.2 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.2Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency33% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-3.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile33th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,591
Chronic Absenteeism31.3%

Forts Pond Elementary — Students at Forts Pond Elementary score 32% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 48.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 44.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
72%
ELA
73%
2011
Math
69%
ELA
70%
2012
Math
69%
ELA
76%
2013
Math
65%
ELA
66%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
24%
2015
Math
38%
ELA
30%
2016
Math
41%
ELA
28%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
35%
2018
Math
40%
ELA
31%
2019
Math
40%
ELA
31%
2020*
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
33%
ELA
32%

* 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: 4.0/10.

How Forts Pond Elementary Compares

See how Forts Pond Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.0/10
26th percentile in SC
Academic
5.2/10
Average
Growth
4.0/10
Below Average
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
31.3%

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

7350 Fish Hatchery Road, Pelion, SC 29123

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Forts Pond Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Deerfield Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby Lexington), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sandhills Primary (rated 7.8/10, 8.1 miles away, in nearby Swansea), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Saxe Gotha Elementary (rated 6.5/10, 9.6 miles away, in nearby Lexington), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Pelion, see our Pelion schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Pelion Middle Pelion 1.2 mi 3.6
Pelion High Pelion 1.4 mi 7.7
Pelion Elementary Pelion 1.6 mi 4.2
Sandhills Middle Gaston 6.4 mi 2.9
Carolina Springs Elementary Lexington 7.7 mi 4.8
Carolina Springs Middle Lexington 8.1 mi 4.9
White Knoll High Lexington 8.8 mi 6.8
Deerfield Elementary Lexington 9.2 mi 8.1
Swansea High Freshman Academy Swansea 8.0 mi 5.8
Saxe Gotha Elementary Lexington 9.6 mi 6.5
Sandhills Elementary Swansea 8.0 mi 3.5
Sandhills Primary Swansea 8.1 mi 7.8
Lexington Four Early Childhood Center Swansea 8.1 mi 6.3
Frances F. Mack Intermediate Gaston 8.9 mi 3.7
Swansea High Swansea 8.9 mi 5.7
Red Bank Elementary Lexington 11.1 mi 6.3
Cyril B. Busbee Elementary Wagener 10.8 mi 3.1
White Knoll Elementary West Columbia 11.7 mi 4.9
A. L. Corbett Middle Wagener 10.9 mi 5.8
Congaree Elementary West Columbia 11.2 mi 4.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29123 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$56,437

Median Home Value

$145,400

Median Rent

$888/mo

Population

8,024

College Educated

12.7%

Homeownership

76.2%

Avg Commute

33.3 min

Poverty Rate

23.3%

Median Age

38.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Annie Burnside Elementary Columbia, SC 5.0
Camden Elementary Camden, SC 5.0
McDonald Green Elementary Lancaster, SC 5.0
Spartanburg Preparatory School Spartanburg, SC 5.0
Chester Park Elementary School for the Arts Chester, SC 4.9
Congaree Elementary West Columbia, SC 4.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Forts Pond Elementary

What grades does Forts Pond Elementary serve?

Forts Pond Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Forts Pond Elementary?

Forts Pond Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 505 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Forts Pond Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Forts Pond Elementary is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Forts Pond Elementary rank in SC?

Forts Pond Elementary ranks #873 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Forts Pond Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Forts Pond Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 Forts Pond Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Forts Pond Elementary has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Forts Pond Elementary a charter school?

No, Forts Pond Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Forts Pond Elementary a Title I school?

No, Forts Pond Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forts Pond Elementary?

100.0% of students at Forts Pond 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
505
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Lexington County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.3%

District

Lexington 01
District Enrollment
27,105
Schools in District
31
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,591
District Rank
#22 of 30

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