Tall Pines Stem Academy, Aiken SC

Original Research by School Decision on Tall Pines Stem Academy

Tall Pines STEM Academy is a public charter school serving grades five through eight in Aiken, South Carolina. It operates under the SC Public Charter School District, a statewide authorizer. The school's enrollment is moderate for a middle school and draws a student body that is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a comparatively limited concentration of low-income households. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported.

On state assessments from the 2024-25 school year, the school's academic picture is clearest when looked at by subject and grade. In English language arts, proficiency was strong across all four grades. This consistency makes literacy a clear academic strength. In math, the pattern is more uneven. Performance was moderate in the lower grades but fell markedly by eighth grade. Science results, available only for sixth grade, were solid. Note that South Carolina changed its cut scores for both ELA and science in recent years, so these proficiency rates should not be directly compared with older results. The school's social studies proficiency was very high in the 2018-19 school year, the most recent year for which that subject was tested, though that data is several years old.

The school's name carries a STEM focus, and parents considering Tall Pines may want to ask about how that emphasis plays out in the math and science curriculum, especially given the drop in math proficiency as students move through the grades. Without trend data or comparative performance against other schools (the county had only one district for comparison), it is difficult to assess whether this pattern is unusual. A parent may want to look into what math support is available for seventh and eighth graders.

The school is located in Aiken, the county seat, a city with a historic downtown and a strong equestrian culture shaped by its past as a winter colony for wealthy Northerners. Key employers include the Savannah River Site nuclear facility, Aiken Regional Medical Center, and the University of South Carolina Aiken. Downtown Aiken offers walkable shops and restaurants, while much of the city is suburban in character. Hitchcock Woods, one of the largest urban forests in the country, provides extensive trails. Housing values in the area are moderate relative to national benchmarks. The city has seen growth over time, influenced by the nearby Savannah River Site.

Because Tall Pines is chartered through the statewide SC Public Charter School District, it is not part of the Aiken County Public School District and operates with the autonomy typical of charters. No recent changes or policy developments for the authorizer were found in available public information.

Several data points are missing that would help families round out the picture. Chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, and staffing information were not reported. The school serves only middle grades, so there is no graduation rate. The Title I status was not indicated. Overall, Tall Pines STEM Academy offers strong literacy instruction and a middle school environment with a small low-income population. Families whose children struggle with math at the upper middle school level may want to explore the supports in place before committing.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 36% · ▲ 8 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 654%

School 54% · District 35% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 740%

School 40% · District 32% · ▲ 8 pts above district

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

Grade 817%

School 17% · District 24% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 578%

School 78% · District 58% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 671%

School 71% · District 62% · ▲ 8 pts above district

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

Grade 770%

School 70% · District 64% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Grade 876%

School 76% · District 59% · ▲ 17 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 664%

School 64% · District 50% · ▲ 14 pts above district

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

Social studies

Grade 590%

School 90% · District 66% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 786%

School 86% · District 65% · ▲ 22 pts above district

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

This schoolSC Public Charter School District, 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 5Lower-income57%Higher-income87%29 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income42%Higher-income81%39 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income55%Higher-income77%23 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income60%Higher-income86%26 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income32%Higher-income49%17 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income27%Higher-income64%37 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income26%Higher-income47%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income11%Higher-income21%10 pp gap