The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in English language arts. The lowest is 58% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Reuben Elementary
Reuben Elementary is a regular public school in the town of Newberry, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Newberry 01 school district. The school’s enrollment is small, and every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch under the federal program.
The student body is predominantly white, with Black students making up the next largest racial or ethnic group, followed by Hispanic students. A smaller share of students identify as two or more races, and the school has an even smaller number of American Indian or Alaska Native students. The data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
Reuben Elementary’s performance on South Carolina’s state assessments, the SC Ready, is mixed and should be interpreted with the knowledge that the state changed its cut scores for English language arts and science. Data for fourth grade was suppressed across all subjects, leaving a gap in the picture. For the grades where data was reported, third graders posted a strong proficiency rate in English language arts, while fifth graders’ proficiency was notably lower. In math, the third and fifth grade results were close to each other, both at levels that leave room for growth. The school had no science results to report beyond the suppressed fourth-grade entry and no social studies data from recent years.
Because Reuben Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The absence of a multi-year academic trend line means it is not possible to see whether performance has been improving or declining over time.
Newberry, the town where the school is located, is a small city and the county seat. Its historic downtown functions as a walkable center, with shops, restaurants, the Newberry Opera House, and a conference center hosting community events. The city is home to Newberry College, a private liberal arts college, and is situated off Interstate 26 roughly halfway between Columbia and Greenville. The surrounding area includes countryside with vineyards, lakes, and forests. The city’s downtown underwent a revival starting with the renovation of the Opera House, but specific data on recent housing development or growth was not available in the sources used.
The Newberry 01 school district has made two notable decisions that bear on families. It will close Whitmire Community School by the 2025-26 school year, consolidating its students into Newberry High and Middle schools and Mid-Carolina High and Middle schools, as a response to declining enrollment and high facility costs. The district also approved a budget with no property tax increase, maintaining the same millage rate as the prior year. This budget includes step increases for teachers and staff.
For a parent or resident considering Reuben Elementary, the school fits a family looking for a small, rural elementary setting within a traditional public school district. The strong early literacy result in third grade is a positive indicator, though the uneven math scores and the gap in fourth-grade data merit a closer conversation with the school about how its curriculum and support are structured across all grades. The district’s consolidation of Whitmire Community School will not directly affect families at Reuben Elementary, but it reflects a broader enrollment trend in the county that may influence the district’s long-term planning. The absence of a property tax increase in the district’s budget is a straightforward financial consideration for area residents.
See more original research from School Decision →