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Very Good

#401 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 34% in state

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy

Elementary School · Beaufort 01

43 W. K. Alston Drive, Beaufort, SC 29906

Enrollment

729

Student-Teacher

9.9:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#401 of 1,176

In Beaufort

#6 of 14

public schools

In district

#17 of 32

Beaufort 01

School environment

9.3 / 10

Excellent

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Robert Smalls Leadership Academy

7.0/10

Elementary School in Beaufort · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Battery Creek High

8.9/10

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

Beaufort Christian School

4.3/10

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

About Robert Smalls Leadership Academy

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy is a public elementary school in Beaufort, SC, part of Beaufort 01. Robert Smalls Leadership Academy serves approximately 729 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Robert Smalls Leadership Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #401 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Robert Smalls Leadership Academy show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.7
  • SC avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

At 9.9:1 students to teachers, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data9
Annual Change-0.99 pts/yr
Data Period2014–2022
TrendStable
Academics3.0Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency13% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency27% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency20% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-16.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile12th
Resources & Environment9.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,232
Chronic Absenteeism23.2%

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy — Students at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy score 20% 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 20.9% (multi-year average, 2014-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 25.1% (multi-year average, 2014-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 18 test records from SC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2014
Math
28%
ELA
26%
2015
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
23%
ELA
22%
2017
Math
26%
ELA
23%
2018
Math
26%
ELA
29%
2019
Math
26%
ELA
29%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
19%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
19%
2022
Math
13%
ELA
27%

* 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: 8.4/10.

How Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Compares

See how Robert Smalls Leadership Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
66th percentile in SC
Academic
3.0/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
8.4/10
Excellent
Environment
9.3/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
74 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.2%

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

43 W. K. Alston Drive, Beaufort, SC 29906

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Robert Smalls Leadership Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Coosa Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 5.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Riverview Charter School (rated 7.8/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, ST PETERS CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 5.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Beaufort, see our Beaufort schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Battery Creek High Beaufort 0.8 mi 8.9
BEAUFORT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Beaufort 1.0 mi 4.3
Broad River Elementary Beaufort 1.1 mi 6.5
Riverview Charter School Beaufort 2.7 mi 7.8
Lowcountry Montessori School Beaufort 3.3 mi 6.1
Mossy Oaks Elementary Beaufort 3.1 mi 6.4
Beaufort Middle Beaufort 3.1 mi 5.3
Beaufort Elementary Beaufort 3.2 mi 6.6
Bridges Preparatory School Beaufort 3.8 mi 8.3
Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary Beaufort 3.9 mi 4.1
Port Royal Elementary Port Royal 4.2 mi 5.2
Beaufort High Beaufort 4.5 mi 7.8
ST PETERS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Beaufort 5.0 mi 7.7
Coosa Elementary Beaufort 5.5 mi 8.8
Lady's Island Middle Beaufort 5.5 mi 5.6
Whale Branch Early College High Seabrook 6.8 mi 9.4
BEAUFORT ACADEMY Beaufort 5.8 mi 7.4
Whale Branch Elementary Seabrook 7.4 mi 3.9
Whale Branch Middle Seabrook 7.5 mi 4.9
Lady's Island Elementary Beaufort 6.8 mi 5.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29906 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,350

Median Home Value

$236,900

Median Rent

$1,377/mo

Population

26,562

College Educated

24.4%

Homeownership

48.2%

Avg Commute

23.6 min

Poverty Rate

14.9%

Median Age

29

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bethel Elementary Simpsonville, SC 7.0
Cedar Grove Elementary Williamston, SC 7.0
Fork Shoals School Pelzer, SC 7.0
Lyman Elementary Lyman, SC 7.0
Marrington Elementary Goose Creek, SC 7.0
Mossy Creek Elementary North Augusta, SC 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Robert Smalls Leadership Academy

What grades does Robert Smalls Leadership Academy serve?

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Robert Smalls Leadership Academy?

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy has an enrollment of approximately 729 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy is 9.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Robert Smalls Leadership Academy rank in SC?

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy ranks #401 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Robert Smalls Leadership Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Robert Smalls Leadership Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022).

Is Robert Smalls Leadership Academy a charter school?

No, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Robert Smalls Leadership Academy a Title I school?

No, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Robert Smalls Leadership Academy?

100.0% of students at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy 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
11 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
729
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
74
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
Beaufort County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.2%

District

Beaufort 01
District Enrollment
21,489
Schools in District
32
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,232
District Rank
#17 of 32

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