Gold Hill Elementary, Tega Cay SC

Original Research by School Decision on Gold Hill Elementary

Gold Hill Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Fort Mill School District, formally York 04. The school sits in Tega Cay, a master-planned lakeside community on the western edge of Lake Wylie, roughly a short commute from Charlotte. Tega Cay was designed as a residential retreat with a golf course, parks, and lake access; it has no traditional downtown, though a mixed-use development called The Grove is underway. The city has grown rapidly and is now a substantial suburb, with more infill expected as geography limits outward expansion.

The school's enrollment is moderately sized for an elementary, drawing from a community where housing values are notably high relative to state and national benchmarks. About a modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is diverse: the largest racial group is white, followed by Asian, Hispanic, Black, two or more races, and a small American Indian or Alaska Native population. This composition reflects the broader area's demographics.

Academically, Gold Hill Elementary posts strong results on South Carolina's SC Ready assessments. In math, across grades three through five, the school's proficiency rates are consistently well above the midpoint for its county, landing in the top quartile among districts in York County. In English language arts, the rates are even higher, with the vast majority of students meeting the state's proficiency standard. Science, tested in fourth grade, also shows a high proficiency rate. Social studies data is from an earlier year and may not reflect current performance due to assessment changes. Overall, the school's academic profile is one of consistently high achievement, placing it among the stronger performers in the region.

Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate or college readiness data. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were not available. The school is not a magnet or charter; it is a standard public neighborhood school. The district has been the fastest-growing in South Carolina, and voters approved a bond referendum in 2023 to fund new elementary and middle schools plus facility upgrades, all without a property tax increase, according to publicly reported information. The district has also conducted redistricting to balance enrollment across schools, meaning attendance zones can shift.

For families considering Tega Cay, the housing market is expensive relative to the state, but the area offers lake-oriented recreation, a planned community feel, and access to a school that delivers strong academic outcomes. The district's rapid growth means new schools are being built, which could affect future attendance boundaries. The lack of a traditional downtown may be a consideration for some, though the planned Grove development may change that. The peer environment at Gold Hill is academically strong and socioeconomically mixed, with a significant Asian American population alongside white and other groups.

In summary, Gold Hill Elementary is a high-performing elementary school in a rapidly growing suburban community with high housing costs and a strong academic record. Parents should be aware of potential redistricting and the ongoing construction of new schools, which may affect future assignments. The school fits families who prioritize strong elementary academics and a lake-suburb setting, and who are comfortable with a car-dependent, master-planned environment.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 379%

School 79% · District 77% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Grade 482%

School 82% · District 76% · ▲ 7 pts above district

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

Grade 582%

School 82% · District 66% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 387%

School 87% · District 84% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Grade 491%

School 91% · District 83% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 591%

School 91% · District 83% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 30 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Science

Grade 482%

School 82% · District 70% · ▲ 11 pts above district

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

Social studies

Grade 592%

School 92% · District 91%

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

This schoolYork 04, 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-income67%Higher-income93%27 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income71%Higher-income95%24 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income78%Higher-income94%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income67%Higher-income83%17 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income54%Higher-income88%33 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income66%Higher-income86%20 pp gap