Meadow Glen Elementary, Lexington SC

Original Research by School Decision on Meadow Glen Elementary

Meadow Glen Elementary sits in the rapidly growing suburb of Lexington, about twelve miles west of Columbia. The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within Lexington School District 1, which is the town's largest employer and the sixth-largest district in South Carolina. This is a district that has been investing heavily in response to enrollment growth: voters approved a bond referendum in 2022 to build two new elementary schools and a new middle school, and the district has adopted a new science-of-reading literacy curriculum phased in starting the 2023-24 school year, with full implementation expected by 2025-26. Teacher salaries have been raised, including a step increase and a general increase, to attract and retain staff.

Academically, Meadow Glen stands out within its county. On the state's SC Ready assessments, proficiency rates across tested subjects and grade levels place the school well above the typical level among districts in Lexington County, comfortably in the top quartile. English language arts performance is notably strong: third-grade proficiency is solid, fourth grade rises further, and fifth grade reaches a particularly high level. Math proficiency is consistent across grades three through five, all at a similar level. Science, tested only in fourth grade, also shows strong results. Social studies data is only available from the 2018-19 school year, which is too old to reflect current conditions. The state changed cut scores for ELA and science in the most recent year, so direct year-over-year comparisons are not reliable, but the single-year picture is clear and favorable. No chronic absenteeism or discipline data was reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas.

Enrollment is substantial for an elementary school. The student body is majority white, with a sizable Asian population, followed by Hispanic and Black students, and a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a mix of economic backgrounds but a relatively low poverty rate for the area. Information on the number of students with IEPs or English learner status was not available, which is a gap a parent may want to investigate.

Housing in the area reflects Lexington's desirability and growth. Home values are above the state median and close to the national median, and rents have been rising. The typical mortgage payment runs higher than the typical rent, suggesting that buying is more expensive than renting here. The town's economy is anchored by the school district itself, county government, and retail, with a historic downtown and Lake Murray nearby providing recreation. Growth has been rapid: the town's population increased substantially between recent censuses, and the district's bond referendum directly addresses overcrowding.

Meadow Glen Elementary is a high-performing suburban school in a fast-growing, well-resourced district. Families moving to the area for work or for the area's amenities will find a school that delivers strong academic results, particularly in reading and writing. The student body is economically mixed but predominantly middle-income. The district's recent investments in new facilities and curriculum signal a commitment to managing growth, though a parent should be aware that attendance zone boundaries may shift as new schools come online. This is a school that fits families who prioritize solid test outcomes, a suburban setting with a downtown nearby, and a district that is actively planning for the future.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 369%

School 69% · District 61% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 466%

School 66% · District 59% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 566%

School 66% · District 54% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 369%

School 69% · District 69%

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 474%

School 74% · District 71% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 582%

School 82% · District 71% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Science

Grade 466%

School 66% · District 52% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 587%

School 87% · District 78% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

This schoolLexington 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income55%Higher-income75%20 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income59%Higher-income83%25 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income68%Higher-income87%18 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income53%Higher-income76%24 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income56%Higher-income73%17 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income42%Higher-income74%32 pp gap