The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in Social studies. The lowest is 57% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on St. James Intermediate
St. James Intermediate serves only fifth and sixth graders, a focused two-year bridge between elementary school and middle school in the Horry County Schools system. Because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate for this school, and its academic picture comes entirely from state assessments given at the end of each spring.
On those assessments, St. James Intermediate turned in results that give a family a clearer sense of where students land by the time they leave. In English language arts, the combined proficiency across both grades was solidly above the midpoint, with fifth graders testing at a higher rate than sixth graders. The same pattern held in math, where the school-wide rate was lower overall; fifth graders again performed at a moderately stronger level than sixth graders, but both grades fell short of the ELA marks. Science is tested only in sixth grade, and that cohort showed a proficiency rate in a similar range to their math performance in sixth grade. Social studies results are older. The only available data comes from the 2018-19 school year, and that year fifth graders met the state's standard at a rate that would be considered high. The school changed its science assessment in the years since, and the state also changed cut scores for ELA, so direct comparisons across years are not straightforward. No participation rates were reported for any of these tests, which is a gap a parent may want to ask the school about.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and smaller but noticeable populations of Black students and students of two or more races. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school draws from a mix of income levels. The data did not include counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent seeking information on special education or language support programs would need to reach out to the school directly. There is no information on disciplinary incidents, chronic absenteeism, or the availability of advanced coursework or enrichment programming.
The school is located in Myrtle Beach, a resort city whose character is dominated by tourism. The community sees over twenty million visitors a year, and the local economy is built around hotels, restaurants, golf courses, and the beachfront boardwalk. At the same time, the city has a permanent residential population that has been growing rapidly, with significant redevelopment of the former Air Force base into the Market Common district, a mixed-use area with parks and shopping. The housing market reflects this combination of vacation rental demand and year-round residency: home values and rents are both elevated, and the area has been one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the country. For a family moving into the area, that growth means new subdivisions and schools that may be absorbing enrollment increases. The district itself had no major recent changes publicly reported at the time of this profile.
St. James Intermediate fits a family looking for a school with a clear academic floor: many students are meeting state standards in reading, and a majority do the same in math and science, though math is the subject where a parent may want to see how the school supports students who are not yet proficient. The school’s grade span means children spend only two years here, so the transition from fifth grade entry to sixth grade exit is relatively quick. For a parent weighing this school, the main unknowns are the size and structure of support services, the extent of enrichment or intervention programs, and the school’s approach to the middle-grade transition. Those are best explored through a visit and a conversation with the principal and teachers.
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