The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cheraw Intermediate
Cheraw Intermediate serves third through fifth graders in the Chesterfield 01 school district, a regular public school housed on its own campus away from the town’s downtown core. The school sits along the highway corridor in Cheraw, a small historic town on the Pee Dee River where US Routes 1 and 52 and SC Highway 9 intersect, giving it a crossroads feel. The town has a historic district with 18th and 19th century architecture, several annual festivals, and anchors like Cheraw State Park and the Pee Dee River. Its growth has been modest, with development focused on preservation rather than expansion.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Black and white, with a much smaller share of students who identify as two or more races and a very small number of Asian and Hispanic students. Every student at Cheraw Intermediate qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a fact that places the school in a context of concentrated economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the state reporting, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about special education and language support services.
State testing results from the most recent school year show a mixed picture. In English language arts, roughly two out of every five students scored at or above the proficiency standard in third, fourth, and fifth grades. Those rates are similar across the three grade levels. In math, the numbers are lower. About one in three third graders met the bar, but the share drops to roughly one in four fourth graders and one in five fifth graders. Science results for fourth graders show that about one in six students reached proficiency. A single year of social studies data from several years ago, which used a different test and different cut scores, showed roughly two out of five fifth graders proficient, but that result is too old and from a different assessment to be a reliable current measure. Because the state changed its cut scores for English language arts and science around the time of these results, year-over-year comparisons are not straightforward. The school’s overall performance in both English and math is based on a single year of data, making it difficult to see trend direction.
The district is the only one in Chesterfield County, so there are no neighboring districts within the county to use as a comparison point for Cheraw Intermediate.
Housing in the Cheraw area is quite affordable relative to national and state benchmarks. The estimated monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home is substantially lower than the national figure, and rents are even lower. The local economy reflects a moderate unemployment rate consistent with the national picture. The town’s major employers include county and town government and the school district itself, with a diversified industrial base and a regional medical facility also present.
Cheraw Intermediate does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The school has no charter or magnet designation, and Title I status was not provided. The district’s recent public record did not turn up any major strategic changes or new initiatives.
For a family considering this school, the central questions are about academic support. The proficiency numbers, particularly in math and science, suggest that many students are working below the state’s grade-level standard. A parent should expect to hear from the school about what interventions and enrichment are available, especially for students who are behind. The school’s role as a feeder into Cheraw High School means that the foundational skills built here matter for the longer academic pathway. The town itself offers a compact, historic setting with outdoor recreation nearby, low housing costs, and a quiet growth pace. The fit may be strongest for families who value small-town life and are prepared to be active partners with the school in addressing academic gaps.
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