Wellford Academy of Science and Technology, Wellford SC

Original Research by School Decision on Wellford Academy of Science and Technology

Wellford Academy of Science and Technology is a regular public elementary school serving prekindergarten through fourth grade within Spartanburg County School District 5. Because the school ends at fourth grade, there is no graduation rate, no high school course offerings such as Advanced Placement or dual credit, and no secondary-level data to report. State testing results are available only for grades three and four (and grade five, which the school does not serve; be aware the data includes a grade five row that likely draws from a very small or differently configured group, so interpret that fifth-grade figure with caution). The school’s academic picture comes from the SC Ready assessments in math, English language arts, and science.

In math, the school’s third-grade proficiency rate landed below the midpoint compared with other elementary schools in Spartanburg County, while fourth-grade math rose to a stronger position, sitting above the midpoint. English language arts results showed a similar split: third-grade proficiency fell below the midpoint, while fourth-grade proficiency was notably higher, placing well above the midpoint. Science results were available for fourth grade only and came in below the midpoint. The overall proficiency index for the school, combining all tested subjects and grades, sat slightly below the midpoint among district elementary schools in the county. Because this is a single year of assessment data and South Carolina made changes to some of its test cut scores, direct comparisons with prior years are not reliable.

The student body is predominantly white, with a significant share of Black and Hispanic students and a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races. Asian and American Indian or Alaska Native students make up very small shares. The school serves a high-poverty population; a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided records.

Wellford itself is a small city in western Spartanburg County that has experienced notable population growth in recent years. Historically a railroad depot community, it retains a small-town residential feel with limited commercial activity along Spartanburg Highway. The city government has added new services like curbside garbage collection and is working with the county parks department to develop green spaces. Housing values in the area are modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is slightly above the typical rent, suggesting homeownership is accessible but not inexpensive by local standards. The broad economic context shows a stable unemployment rate near the national level and a median household income that has risen modestly in recent years.

No recent district-level changes such as bond referendums, curriculum shifts, or boundary adjustments were found in publicly available sources for Spartanburg 05. A parent seeking the most current information on programs or upcoming developments would need to contact the district directly.

For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is that Wellford Academy is an early-elementary school serving a high-needs population. Academic performance is mixed by grade and subject, with fourth grade showing a notably stronger picture than third grade. The school’s name includes “Science and Technology,” but no specific program offerings or curriculum details were provided in the available data to explain what that designation means in practice. A parent interested in the school’s science and technology focus should ask the school for specifics. The community is growing and residential, with a fairly affordable housing market and a small-town atmosphere, but lacks a dense downtown or extensive civic infrastructure like a public library or transit system.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 60% · ▼ 15 pts below district

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

Grade 452%

School 52% · District 62% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 551%

School 51% · District 58% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 58% · ▼ 20 pts below district

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

Grade 461%

School 61% · District 68% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 61% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Science

Grade 441%

School 41% · District 49% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 491%

School 91% · district not reported

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

This schoolSpartanburg 05, 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 4Lower-income51%Higher-income88%37 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income57%Higher-income68%11 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income48%Higher-income65%18 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income49%Higher-income59%10 pp gap