Very Good
#316 of 1,176 schools in SC
Top 27% in state
J. L. Cain Elementary
Elementary School · Darlington 01 · Darlington, SC
A Darlington 01 elementary school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
607 First Street, Darlington, SC 29532
- Math 22% proficient (2022)
- Reading 26% proficient (2022)
- 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at J. L. Cain 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
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 9 points since 2020, reaching 24% in 2022, across a 3-year record (2020–2022).
Show all 3 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 17% (multi-year average, 2020-2022) · reading/ELA 26% (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 J. L. Cain 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 31Car-Dependent
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High7,051/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Darlington), 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
$41,810
Median home value
$120,400
Median rent
$885/mo
College educated
15.1%
Homeownership
63.5%
Poverty rate
18.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29532; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 567 | Compare → |
| Brockington ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | 3–5 | 1.6 mi | 311 | Compare → |
| Pate ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | PK–2 | 2.2 mi | 411 | Compare → |
| Temple Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.7private | PK–6 | 4.3 mi | 76 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Darlington 01
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #9 of 18
- District spending per student
- $17,420NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 26.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
J. L. Cain Elementary is listed in Darlington 01; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About J. L. Cain Elementary
J. L. Cain Elementary is a public elementary school in Darlington, SC, part of Darlington 01, serving approximately 569 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #316 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 17% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2022) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (2022 EdFacts).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about J. L. Cain Elementary
What grades does J. L. Cain Elementary serve?
J. L. Cain Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend J. L. Cain Elementary?
J. L. Cain Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 569 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. L. Cain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J. L. Cain Elementary is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does J. L. Cain Elementary rank in SC?
J. L. Cain Elementary ranks #316 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is J. L. Cain Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
J. L. Cain Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 J. L. Cain Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, J. L. Cain Elementary has 17% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2022) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (2022 EdFacts).
Is J. L. Cain Elementary a charter school?
No, J. L. Cain Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is J. L. Cain Elementary a Title I school?
No, J. L. Cain Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for J. L. Cain Elementary?
100.0% of students at J. L. Cain 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
- 569
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 40
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Darlington County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.8%
- Phone
- (843) 398-6220
- Area population (ZIP 29532)
- 20,272
- Area average commute
- 20.3 min
- Area median age
- 43.6
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 29532; 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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