B
Good
71/100

Waterway Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 700 Sandridge Road, Little River, SC 29566
Overall
B
71/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
A
0.4 grade levels above the U.S. average · 78th percentile in South Carolina
Growth
C
Students gain 0.69 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 33rd percentile
Resources
B+
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against South Carolina schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

71
Repit Score
out of 100
845
Students
enrolled
15.9:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$15K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%78/1000.4 grade levels above the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%33/100Students gain 0.69 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 1.04 in 2009–19; 22nd percentile in South Carolina (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%79/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in South Carolina. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency55% (+6 pts vs. state avg 49%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency62% (+15 pts vs. state avg 47%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the South Carolina state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White67%72%reading +5 pts, math +6 pts72nd percentile (list)
Black27%42%reading -2 pts, math +10 pts60th percentile (list)
Hispanic52%52%reading +16 pts, math +8 pts77th percentile (list)
Multiracial55%75%reading +2 pts, math +20 pts72nd percentile (list)
Low-income52%57%reading +16 pts, math +17 pts89th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 700 Sandridge Road
City Little River
ZIP Code 29566
District 4502490
NCES School ID 450249000901
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 29566

Understanding the community around Waterway Elementary helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $59,960
Per Capita Income $39,762
Poverty Rate 7.0%
Households Earning $100K+ 24.0%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.9%
High School or Higher 92.3%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $244,200
Median Rent $1,202
Owner-Occupied 78.7%
Renter-Occupied 21.3%
View full data for ZIP 29566 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 29566 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 29566 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Waterway Elementary.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 53.9%
Female 46.2%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 50.9%
Black 18.3%
Hispanic/Latino 17.2%
Two or More Races 11.4%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian 0.6%
Pacific Islander 0.2%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 845
Teachers (FTE) 53.0
Student:Teacher Ratio 15.9:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Waterway Elementary?
Waterway Elementary has a Repit School Score of 71 out of 100, earning a grade of B. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Waterway Elementary?
Waterway Elementary has 845 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1.
What grades does Waterway Elementary serve?
Waterway Elementary serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does Waterway Elementary receive per student?
Waterway Elementary receives $14,530 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is around the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Waterway Elementary in 29566 ▼
Avg Home Value
$323,004
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,502
1-Year Change
+0.0%
% Renters
21.3%

Other Schools in 29566

View all schools and real estate data for 29566 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026