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Average

#629 of 1,176 schools in SC

Northwest Elementary

Elementary School · Cherokee 01

840 Green River Road, Gaffney, SC 29341

Enrollment

425

Student-Teacher

14.7:1

Score

6.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#629 of 1,176

In Gaffney

#5 of 11

public schools

In district

#5 of 14

Cherokee 01

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Northwest Elementary

6.1/10

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

Gaffney High

6.2/10

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

Mayo Elementary

7.0/10

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

About Northwest Elementary

Northwest Elementary is a public elementary school in Gaffney, SC, part of Cherokee 01. Northwest Elementary serves approximately 425 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Northwest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #629 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Northwest Elementary show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 6.1 · Average
  • District avg 5.3
  • SC avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Northwest 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.53 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.6Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency52% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency47% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-1.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile51th
Resources & Environment6.5Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,668
Chronic Absenteeism18.8%

Northwest Elementary — Students at Northwest Elementary score 47% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

73.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 64.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 58.7% (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
92%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
81%
2011
Math
84%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
81%
ELA
80%
2013
Math
81%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
57%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
56%
ELA
50%
2016
Math
55%
ELA
41%
2017
Math
60%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
57%
ELA
50%
2019
Math
57%
ELA
50%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
52%

* 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: 5.7/10.

How Northwest Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
6.1/10
47th percentile in SC
Academic
6.6/10
Average
Growth
5.7/10
Average
Environment
6.5/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
74%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.8%

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

840 Green River Road, Gaffney, SC 29341

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northwest Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Cherokee Charter Academy (rated 8.4/10, 9.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Cliffside Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 9.9 miles away, in nearby Cliffside), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 8.7 miles away, in nearby Chesnee), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Gaffney, see our Gaffney schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Gaffney High Gaffney 5.2 mi 6.2
Mayo Elementary Mayo 5.3 mi 7.0
Cowpens Elementary Cowpens 6.2 mi 7.3
Chesnee Middle Chesnee 5.8 mi 5.8
Grassy Pond Elementary Gaffney 5.8 mi 6.4
Chesnee High Chesnee 5.9 mi 6.8
B. D. Lee Elementary Gaffney 6.0 mi 3.2
Limestone-Central Elementary Gaffney 6.4 mi 4.6
Chesnee Elementary Chesnee 7.0 mi 7.6
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary Gaffney 7.0 mi 4.1
Gaffney Middle Gaffney 7.4 mi 5.7
Cannons Elementary Spartanburg 8.5 mi 7.5
John E. Ewing Middle Gaffney 8.2 mi 4.0
Broome High Spartanburg 9.3 mi 7.3
Cliffside Elementary School Cliffside 9.9 mi 8.3
Clifdale Middle Spartanburg 9.6 mi 4.9
Corinth Elementary Gaffney 9.3 mi 6.5
Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary Chesnee 8.7 mi 8.0
Cherokee Charter Academy Gaffney 9.2 mi 8.4
McCracken Middle Spartanburg 10.7 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29341 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$55,631

Median Home Value

$171,300

Median Rent

$857/mo

Population

19,564

College Educated

27%

Homeownership

72%

Avg Commute

22.6 min

Poverty Rate

16.8%

Median Age

37.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
MITCHELL ROAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Greenville, SC 6.1
North Hartsville Elementary Hartsville, SC 6.1
Northside Elementary Rock Hill, SC 6.1
Windsor Elementary Columbia, SC 6.1
Armstrong Elementary Greenville, SC 6.0
Boundary St. Elementary Newberry, SC 6.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northwest Elementary

What grades does Northwest Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Northwest Elementary?

Northwest Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 425 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwest Elementary is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northwest Elementary rank in SC?

Northwest Elementary ranks #629 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Northwest Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 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 Northwest Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwest Elementary has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Northwest Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Northwest Elementary a Title I school?

No, Northwest Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

73.6% of students at Northwest 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
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
18 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
425
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
73.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Cherokee County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.8%

District

Cherokee 01
District Enrollment
7,712
Schools in District
15
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,668
District Rank
#5 of 14

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