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Average

#430 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 37% in state

James Island Elementary

Elementary School · Charleston 01

1872 Grimball Road, Charleston, SC 29412

Enrollment

616

Student-Teacher

16.2:1

Score

6.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#430 of 1,176

In Charleston

#19 of 31

public schools

In district

#38 of 79

Charleston 01

School environment

7.2 / 10

Very Good

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James Island Elementary

6.9/10

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

Nativity School

7.9/10

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

Camp Road Middle

7.2/10

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

About James Island Elementary

James Island Elementary is a public elementary school in Charleston, SC, part of Charleston 01. James Island Elementary serves approximately 616 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. James Island Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #430 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for James Island Elementary show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 6.9 · Average
  • District avg 6.2
  • SC avg 6.1

Score Breakdown

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, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,635
Chronic Absenteeism15.4%

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

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

44.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 60.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 60.7% (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
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%

* 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: 6.8/10.

How James Island Elementary Compares

See how James Island Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.9/10
64th percentile in SC
Academic
6.9/10
Average
Growth
6.8/10
Average
Environment
7.2/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
44%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.4%

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

1872 Grimball Road, Charleston, SC 29412

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering James Island Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 5.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Harbor View Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Stiles Point Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 3.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Charleston, see our Charleston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.9 mi
School Distance Rating
NATIVITY SCHOOL Charleston 1.7 mi 7.9
Camp Road Middle Charleston 2.2 mi 7.2
Murray-LaSaine Montessori Charleston 2.9 mi 7.2
James Island Charter High Charleston 3.1 mi 9.1
Harbor View Elementary Charleston 3.7 mi 8.1
JAMES ISLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Charleston 3.9 mi 5.9
Stiles Point Elementary Charleston 3.6 mi 8.0
PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL Charleston 4.9 mi 5.9
Mt. Zion Elementary Johns Island 4.3 mi 5.4
St. Andrew's School of Math and Science Charleston 5.2 mi 7.8
OAK GROVE MONTESSORI Charleston 5.3 mi
BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL Charleston 5.5 mi 8.3
MASON PREPARATORY SCHOOL Charleston 5.5 mi 6.2
FIRST BAPTIST SCHOOL OF CHARLESTON Charleston 5.6 mi 7.0
CHARLES TOWNE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Charleston 5.8 mi 6.5
THE COOPER SCHOOL Charleston 5.9 mi 7.2
CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL Charleston 5.7 mi 6.9
Stono Park Elementary Charleston 5.8 mi 4.0
Memminger Elementary Charleston 5.9 mi 6.0
NE MILES EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Charleston 5.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29412 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$99,443

Median Home Value

$458,000

Median Rent

$1,744/mo

Population

40,495

College Educated

54.8%

Homeownership

72.5%

Avg Commute

23.1 min

Poverty Rate

7.8%

Median Age

40

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Angel Oak Elementary Johns Island, SC 6.9
Campobello-Gramling School Campobello, SC 6.9
East Aiken School of the Arts Aiken, SC 6.9
Green Sea Floyds Elementary Green Sea, SC 6.9
Kinard Elementary Clover, SC 6.9
Pauline-Glenn Springs Elementary Pauline, SC 6.9

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
616
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
44.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Charleston County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.4%

District

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

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