The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Social studies. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Calhoun Academy of the Arts
Calhoun Academy of the Arts is a regular public elementary school in Anderson, part of Anderson School District Five. It serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and, as its name suggests, incorporates an arts focus into its program. The school is not a charter or magnet, and while its Title I status was not reported, its free and reduced-price meal data makes the economic context clear: every student qualifies for that program, reflecting the school’s role in a high-poverty neighborhood. That concentration of need is the most important factor for a parent to understand before looking at test scores.
The student body is diverse. Black and White students each make up a substantial share of enrollment, with a smaller but still considerable Hispanic population and a modest number of multiracial students. Asian and Native American students are present in very small numbers. Enrollment is fairly balanced across grades K through five, with a slightly smaller pre-K group. The school is mid-sized for an elementary school in the district.
On state assessments administered through South Carolina’s SC Ready program, Calhoun Academy’s results show a mixed picture. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above rises across elementary grades, from a little over half in third grade to a clear majority in fifth grade. Math proficiency is lower, with about two-fifths of students meeting the bar in third and fourth grades and just under half in fifth grade. Fourth-grade science results are softer, with roughly a third of students proficient. Social studies data is from an older assessment cycle and does not reflect current performance. Overall, the school’s proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands well below the middle point among districts in Anderson County. The district-level comparison is the relevant benchmark, and it places Calhoun Academy in the bottom tier. That is a signal a parent should take seriously and follow up on with the school about academic interventions and support structures.
The school’s performance data covers only one year, so there is no trend to assess. State officials changed cut scores for ELA and science in the tested years, which means even if prior data existed, direct comparisons would be uncertain. Calhoun Academy does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider.
Anderson itself is a mid-sized city that serves as the county seat, with a diversified manufacturing economy and a private university adding a college-town element. It sits on the I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte, an area described as one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. The city’s downtown is traditional, with a historic courthouse and main street fabric, while much of the commercial development is along auto-oriented corridors. Public transit is available through six bus routes and a connection to Clemson Area Transit. Housing values and rents in the school’s ZIP code are broadly in line with statewide benchmarks; the ratio of rent to income suggests a typical cost burden for the area. The district itself had no major recent changes reported in web research.
For a family evaluating Calhoun Academy, the central takeaway is that this is a school serving a high-need student population, and its state test results lag behind the county average. The arts focus may be a draw for families who value that enrichment, but the academic numbers are soft enough that a parent would want to ask about tutoring, intervention programs, and how the school addresses the challenges that come with concentrated poverty. The community context is stable and growing, with Anderson offering a range of civic and recreational anchors. The school can work well for a family that is engaged, willing to partner with teachers, and interested in a neighborhood school with an arts identity.
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