The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Clio Elementary
Clio Elementary is a regular public school in the Marlboro County School District, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located in the small rural town of Clio, South Carolina, an agricultural community with a historic downtown and a local economy built around cotton farming and manufacturing. Enrollment is small, with classes spread across each elementary grade.
Every single student at Clio Elementary qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the community. The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of white students and some representation from American Indian or Alaska Native and two-or-more-races backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile.
State assessment results for the most recent school year show that fewer than half of tested students met proficiency benchmarks in English language arts across grades three, four, and five. Proficiency rates in math were lower, with roughly a quarter to just over two-fifths of students reaching the proficient level depending on the grade. Science results for fourth grade showed that about one in five students met the standard. Social studies data comes from an earlier year, so it is not a current picture of performance. Because the school serves only early and elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The most recent assessment year includes a state note that cutscores for ELA and science changed, which can affect comparability with prior results. The district did not have parent-relevant changes reported in the research, and the school profile did not include information on discipline, attendance, staffing, or course access. A parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas.
The town of Clio itself is very small, with a historic district of mostly pre-war structures and a declining population. Housing values in the area are well below state and national medians, and the local economy is anchored by a few manufacturing and agricultural employers. The town’s civic life includes an annual cotton festival and a community center, but there is no public library or transit system specific to Clio.
For a family considering Clio Elementary, the picture is one of a small, rural school where economic need is universal and academic proficiency rates in the core subjects are below the levels many families might hope to see, particularly in math and science. The school is part of a single-county district with no other local comparison points for proficiency, so there is no way to measure it against a nearby peer within the county. The absence of trend data beyond a single year means it is not possible to see whether performance is improving or declining. The school’s size and setting may appeal to families who want a close-knit environment, but the academic results and lack of detail on programming and student supports are areas worth exploring further with the school or district.
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