The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Carver Edisto Middle
Carver Edisto Middle is a regular public school serving sixth through eighth grade in the Orangeburg school district, located in the rural crossroads community of Cope, South Carolina. Cope is one of the smallest incorporated towns in the state, with a population verified at about 50 residents. It has no downtown, no schools of its own, and no major employers. The town has been losing residents for years; after the 2020 census it nearly lost its charter and had to prove it still had enough people to remain a municipality. Families who send their children here almost certainly live outside the town limits and travel to the school, which is situated on Carver School Road in a setting that is overwhelmingly residential and agricultural.
The enrollment is large for a school serving only three grades, and every single student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals under federal guidelines. That speaks directly to the economic circumstances of the families the school serves. The student body is majority Black, with a substantial share of white students and a smaller but notable Hispanic population, along with a handful of students who identify as two or more races. Data on how many students receive special education services or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state testing, Carver Edisto Middle’s results are one area where a parent will want to look closely. In the 2024-25 school year, the share of students scoring proficient or above in math was low across all three grades. English language arts proficiency rates were higher, though still well below half of students tested. Science proficiency, tested only in sixth grade, landed between the math and ELA figures. The state changed the cut scores for ELA and science in this testing cycle, which means the results are not directly comparable to prior years, and the school had only one year of data for those subjects. Math proficiency has only the single year as well, so there is no trend to report. Overall, the academic picture is one where a majority of students are not meeting state benchmarks, particularly in math. A parent considering this school would want to understand what interventions and supports are in place.
The school offers no high school grades, so there is no graduation rate. Because the comparison set within Orangeburg County was too small to calculate a proficiency index, we cannot say how Carver Edisto Middle compares to other schools in the area. The district brief turned up no recent changes of note, so there are no new programs or initiatives to report from that side.
Housing in this part of Orangeburg County is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with home values well below the state median. The area has a modest unemployment rate near the national figure. For a family deciding whether to live in this community, the housing costs are a factor that may offset the school’s low test outcomes. But the town itself offers very little beyond housing—no commercial district, no parks, no library. The nearest city of any size is Orangeburg, a short drive away.
Carver Edisto Middle is a school in a deeply rural, economically stressed setting where state test results are weak, particularly in math. Every student qualifies for meal assistance. The school is the only middle school option for this part of the district, so families looking at it are likely considering the Orangeburg County system as a whole and may want to research what academic interventions, after-school supports, and feeder high school options are available.
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