The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Manning Elementary
Manning Elementary is a regular public school in Clarendon School District 2, serving grades four through six in the town of Manning, South Carolina. The school sits within a small county-seat city that functions as a regional crossroads just east of Interstate 95, with an NHRP-listed Commercial Historic District at its core. The town has a modest growth trajectory, partly driven by retiree in-migration along the I-95 corridor, and the city is investing in downtown revitalization projects. The district itself is Clarendon 06, and publicly reported information did not surface recent parent-relevant changes such as leadership turnover, boundary adjustments, or new program launches at the district level. The school has a modest enrollment for its grade band, which is typical for a town of Manning's size. Every student enrolled qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a clear signal about the economic context families in this community are working within. The student body is majority Black, with a sizable white minority, a smaller Hispanic population, and small numbers of Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and two-or-more-races students.
On state assessments using the SC Ready test, Manning Elementary's results show a mixed picture that varies by subject and grade. In English language arts, proficiency rates climb as students get older, with the highest share of students meeting the standard in fifth grade. Fourth-grade students also show a solid rate, while third-grade results are lower. Mathematics tells a different story: proficiency rates decline across the grades, with the highest share of proficient students in third grade and a lower share in fifth grade. Science results are available only for fourth grade, where a smaller share of students met the proficiency standard compared to the other tested subjects in that grade. State testing data for grades beyond this school's band does not apply, as Manning Elementary does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The data covers only the most recent school year, so there is no multi-year trend available to show whether performance is improving or declining over time; a parent may want to ask the school how these results compare to prior years. Because the comparison set for this school's county includes only one district, the data does not allow a meaningful academic positioning relative to neighbors.
Manning is a compact town where schools, civic institutions, and the downtown are integrated into the small-town fabric rather than sitting on separated campuses. The F.E. DuBose Campus of Central Carolina Technical College is also in Manning, and the Harvin Clarendon County Library and the Clarendon County Archives and History Center are downtown. The town has faced setbacks, including an EF2 tornado in 2022 that caused considerable damage on the western and northwestern sides, and historically has rebuilt after fires and storms. The housing market in the broader area is somewhat less expensive than state and national benchmarks, which may matter for families considering a move.
Families considering Manning Elementary should weigh the economic context of the community and the school's academic results across tested subjects and grades. The school's strength in upper-grade English language arts stands out, while math and science outcomes are areas where a parent may want to talk with the school about instruction and support. The school's grade band means that students transition elsewhere for middle and high school, so the full pathway includes other schools in Clarendon School District 2. The absence of data on chronic absenteeism and discipline, as well as on special education and English learner populations, means those dimensions are not captured in this account.
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