Thomas E. Kerns Elementary, Greenville SC

Original Research by School Decision on Thomas E. Kerns Elementary

Thomas E. Kerns Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Greenville, South Carolina. It sits within Greenville 01, the largest school district in the state. The school’s student body is diverse: the largest groups are Black students, followed by Hispanic students, with smaller shares of White, multiracial, and American Indian students. Every enrolled student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Data on the shares of students with disabilities or who are English learners were not available in the records reviewed.

On the most recent state assessments, the school’s results vary by subject. In English language arts, roughly half of students in grades three through five scored at the proficient level or above. In mathematics, the share was lower, around two-fifths. The science results for grade four were lower still. The state changed the cut scores for ELA and science in recent years, which may affect how these numbers compare to earlier years. Social studies results from a prior year are on the page but come from an older test and a different scoring scale, so they are not a current measure. Overall, proficiency rates are modest. A parent may want to ask the school about the specific interventions and academic supports available to students.

The school is a traditional elementary program; there are no specialized magnet or charter designations. Because it serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or college-preparatory data to consider. Information on staffing ratios, discipline, attendance, and course offerings was not present in the available data.

The community context matters. Greenville has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States in recent years, with rapid population, economic, and developmental growth. The city’s character blends residential, commercial, and industrial uses. Historically a textile and railroad hub, it has shifted toward advanced manufacturing and automotive production. Major employers include Michelin, Prisma Health, Bon Secours, and Duke Energy. Downtown Greenville is known for Falls Park on the Reedy, the Liberty Bridge, and the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Home values in the area are near the state average, and rents are moderate relative to national benchmarks. The school is located on Frontage Road at White Horse Road, an area that reflects the mix of industrial and commercial uses along a major corridor.

The district itself, Greenville 01, did not have any significant parent-relevant changes publicly reported in the period examined. The district brief noted that the search found little of lasting impact.

For a family considering this school, the picture is that of a traditional elementary in a rapidly growing city, serving a student population that is economically disadvantaged and diverse. The academic results are moderate, with room for growth across tested subjects. The school’s location within a large district means it is part of a system with many resources, but local data on support programs and classroom conditions is limited in the public record. A parent would benefit from visiting the school and speaking directly with staff about reading and math interventions, enrichment opportunities, and the specific programs that serve students from low-income backgrounds.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 337%

School 37% · District 66% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 439%

School 39% · District 65% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 534%

School 34% · District 60% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 71% · ▼ 25 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 71% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 70% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Science

Grade 430%

School 30% · District 63% · ▼ 33 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 554%

School 54% · District 80% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

This schoolGreenville 01, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.