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Average

#540 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 46% in state

Waterway Elementary

Elementary School · Horry 01

700 Sandridge Road, Little River, SC 29566

Enrollment

845

Student-Teacher

15.9:1

Score

6.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#540 of 1,176

In Little River

#3 of 4

public schools

In district

#38 of 55

Horry 01

Academic performance

7.2 / 10

Very Good

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Waterway Elementary

6.5/10

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

North Myrtle Beach Middle

5.9/10

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

North Myrtle Beach High

6.7/10

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

About Waterway Elementary

Waterway Elementary is a public elementary school in Little River, SC, part of Horry 01. Waterway Elementary serves approximately 845 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Waterway Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #540 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Waterway Elementary show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.4 pts below district
  • This school 6.5 · Average
  • District avg 6.9
  • SC avg 6.1

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.02 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.2Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency53% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency55% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency54% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)55% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-0.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile59th
Resources & Environment5.1Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,222
Chronic Absenteeism19.2%

Waterway Elementary — Students at Waterway Elementary score 54% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

59.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 65.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 61.1% (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
87%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
85%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
81%
ELA
84%
2013
Math
78%
ELA
81%
2014
Math
55%
ELA
30%
2015
Math
55%
ELA
46%
2016
Math
56%
ELA
46%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
55%
2020*
Math
50%
ELA
48%
2021*
Math
50%
ELA
48%
2022
Math
53%
ELA
55%

* 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: 6.7/10.

How Waterway Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
6.5/10
54th percentile in SC
Academic
7.2/10
Very Good
Growth
6.7/10
Average
Environment
5.1/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
60%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
53 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.2%

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

700 Sandridge Road, Little River, SC 29566

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Waterway Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ocean Drive Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby North Myrtle Beach), which scores notably higher. Another option is Riverside Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 2.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Myrtle Beach Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 13.9 miles away, in nearby Myrtle Beach), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Little River, see our Little River schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.2 mi
School Distance Rating
North Myrtle Beach Middle Little River 0.1 mi 5.9
North Myrtle Beach High Little River 1.2 mi 6.7
Ocean Drive Elementary North Myrtle Beach 1.5 mi 8.5
Riverside Elementary Little River 2.4 mi 8.3
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Longs 3.1 mi 7.1
RISEN CHRIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Myrtle Beach 5.3 mi 5.5
Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary Ash 10.2 mi 6.8
Ocean Bay Elementary Myrtle Beach 12.0 mi 7.6
Ocean Bay Middle Myrtle Beach 12.1 mi 6.5
WEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Ocean Isle Beach 13.1 mi 5.1
MYRTLE BEACH SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOO Myrtle Beach 13.2 mi
Myrtle Beach Elementary Myrtle Beach 13.9 mi 7.7
Myrtle Beach High Myrtle Beach 14.0 mi 6.8
Daisy Elementary Loris 14.2 mi 6.2
Myrtle Beach Middle Myrtle Beach 14.2 mi 5.8
Myrtle Beach Early Childhood Myrtle Beach 14.2 mi 6.8
Myrtle Beach Primary Myrtle Beach 14.3 mi 6.1
CHABAD JEWISH ACADEMY Myrtle Beach 14.4 mi 6.6
River Oaks Elementary Myrtle Beach 14.2 mi 7.4
Ten Oaks Middle Myrtle Beach 14.2 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29566 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,358

Median Home Value

$275,600

Median Rent

$1,488/mo

Population

21,194

College Educated

24.7%

Homeownership

80%

Avg Commute

25.2 min

Poverty Rate

9.4%

Median Age

60.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Anderson Mill Elementary Moore, SC 6.5
Bridge Creek Elementary Elgin, SC 6.5
Fort Dorchester Elementary Summerville, SC 6.5
Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle Gray Court, SC 6.5
Lake Forest Elementary Greenville, SC 6.5
Mathews Elementary Greenwood, SC 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Waterway Elementary

What grades does Waterway Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Waterway Elementary?

Waterway Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 845 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Waterway Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Waterway Elementary is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Waterway Elementary rank in SC?

Waterway Elementary ranks #540 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Waterway Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Waterway Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Waterway Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Waterway Elementary has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Waterway Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Waterway Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

59.5% of students at Waterway 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
7 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
845
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
53
Free/Reduced Lunch
59.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Horry County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.2%

District

Horry 01
District Enrollment
48,205
Schools in District
57
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,222
District Rank
#38 of 55

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