The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Social studies. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on J. D. Lever Elementary
J. D. Lever Elementary is a regular public school in Aiken, South Carolina, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Aiken 01 school district, the county-wide system that covers the city and surrounding areas. The school sits on Columbia Highway, a main route through Aiken, and draws from a mix of residential neighborhoods. Aiken itself is a city with a historic downtown, a strong equestrian tradition, and a major economic anchor in the Savannah River Site nuclear facility, which employs many local residents.
The school’s academic performance on the 2024-25 state assessments shows a mixed picture. In English language arts, roughly half of students scored at or above the proficiency standard in third and fourth grade, with a slightly lower share in fifth grade. Math results are more uneven: third-grade proficiency stood near half, fourth grade somewhat lower, and fifth grade significantly lower than the earlier grades. Science, tested only in fourth grade, showed about one-third of students reaching proficiency. Social studies data from the 2018-19 school year, before the pandemic and using a different set of cut scores, indicated a higher rate, but that information is too dated and methodologically different to draw a current conclusion. The state changed its cut scores for ELA and science in recent years, so direct comparisons with earlier years are not possible. Overall, the school’s proficiency rates are modest, and the decline in math between third and fifth grade is something a family might want to explore further with the school.
The student body is racially diverse. White students form the largest single group, followed by a substantial share of Black students, a smaller but notable Hispanic population, and a group of students who identify as two or more races. The school reports that all enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high concentration of low-income households. Enrollment is large for an elementary school, and the school serves a full pre-K program, which can be an important resource for working families.
The broader district has seen several recent changes that affect Lever Elementary families. Voters approved a major bond referendum in 2024 to fund new school construction, renovations, and buses, which will increase property taxes. The district also implemented a new elementary literacy curriculum based on the science of reading, replacing the previous balanced literacy approach. That shift will affect how reading is taught at Lever. Additionally, the school board has discussed potential school closures and consolidations in the southern part of the county, though Lever is not in that area; the redistricting plan approved for North Augusta schools does not apply here.
Housing in the Aiken area is moderately priced compared to national benchmarks, and rents have been rising. The local economy has a stable base anchored by the Savannah River Site and regional healthcare, with a current unemployment rate near the national average. Aiken’s downtown offers walkable amenities, but most of the city is car-dependent, and the school itself is located on a major highway corridor.
J. D. Lever Elementary serves a high-poverty population in a city with a stable economy and notable cultural assets. Its academic outcomes are uneven, with reading relatively stronger in the early grades and math a point of concern, particularly by fifth grade. A family choosing this school should expect a diverse, economically challenged student body and a district undergoing facility investments and curricular change. The school’s pre-K program and the district’s new reading initiative are positive features, but the math proficiency pattern warrants attention.
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