Skip to main content

Average

#430 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 37% in state

James Island Elementary

Elementary School · Charleston 01 · Charleston, SC

A Charleston 01 elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1872 Grimball Road, Charleston, SC 29412

  • Math 54% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 57% proficient (2022)
  • 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.8Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.98 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.9Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency54% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency56% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)62% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile55th
Resources & Environment7.2Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.2:1
District spending per student$16,635
Chronic Absenteeism15.4%

Students at James Island Elementary score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. SC average.

Math Proficiency54%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency57%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 31 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 56% recently.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
83%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
78%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
73%
ELA
80%
2013
Math
74%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
55%
ELA
31%
2015
Math
55%
ELA
54%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
46%
2017
Math
49%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
48%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
48%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
54%
ELA
57%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 61% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

44.2%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where James Island 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
  • City Safety: High2,389/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Charleston), 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

$99,443

Median home value

$458,000

Median rent

$1,744/mo

College educated

54.8%

Homeownership

72.5%

Poverty rate

7.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29412; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Nativity SchoolPrivate · tuition7.9privatePK–81.7 mi89Compare →
Murray-lasaine MontessoriEnrollment path unverified7.2PK–82.9 mi338Compare →
Stiles Point ElementaryEnrollment path unverified8.0PK–53.6 mi813Compare →
Harbor View ElementaryEnrollment path unverified8.1PK–53.7 mi662Compare →

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.

Charleston 01

Schools in district
82
Rank in district
#38 of 79
District spending per student
$16,635NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
13.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

James Island Elementary is listed in Charleston 01; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About James Island Elementary

James Island Elementary is a public elementary school in Charleston, SC, part of Charleston 01, serving approximately 616 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #430 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about James Island Elementary

What grades does James Island Elementary serve?

James Island Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend James Island Elementary?

James Island Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 616 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at James Island Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at James Island Elementary is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does James Island Elementary rank in SC?

James Island Elementary ranks #430 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is James Island Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

James Island Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 James Island Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, James Island Elementary has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is James Island Elementary a charter school?

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

Is James Island Elementary a Title I school?

No, James Island Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James Island Elementary?

44.2% of students at James Island 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
616
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Charleston County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.4%
Area population (ZIP 29412)
40,495
Area average commute
23.1 min
Area median age
40
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 29412; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.