97 Academy St
Startex, SC 29377

I had high hopes for this school and they've been crushed. This school is awful and we've had nothing but problems since my daughter started. Never had a problem at her previous school besides one incident with an older teacher during her 1st day of 1st grade. It was more a whole classroom problem than my daughter. The teachers are something. I attended a basketball game and one of the teachers acted like she was in high school herself. She had a ton of teenagers surrounding her and they were cussing etc. She did nothing and gallivanted around like a school girl. It was weird. I've had a teacher rip up my daughter's work. The only bright light is the assistant principal Mr.Greene. She keeps begging to homeschool and she might just get it after this year.

We had our son in a Montessori school, and it just wasn't working for us. We toured several other Public Elementary schools, and Wellford stood out. Our son started in the 1st grade at Wellford, and just finished 4th. I wish we'd had him at Wellford from the very beginning! Every teacher, every administrator, every worker knew our son. Every teacher he had was exactly what he needed, and he has excelled in ways that we were told (by the Montessori staff) that he "would never make it in public schools." We had our son in Wellford by school choice, and have not regretted that decision. I truly felt that our son was encouraged and loved every minute he was there. Thank you, Wellford!

Worst school I have sent my kids to, teachers don’t know what they are teaching, kids get bullied.

I don’t recognize this school as the school the students and other teachers are describing. My daughter tells me “the tea” regularly about this school and what happens. There has been 2-3 fights that I’m aware of, but my daughter has been safe. It was over boyfriends and a group fight with the cheerleading squad in public. I’m not condoning the fights, but those fights seem to come from the same group of friends. I’m sure it’ll age out of the school. My experience with my kid at this school has been positive. The administration is involved, there is a therapist available and the teachers are good quality teachers. My only gripe would be that I think the teachers should be in better communication with the parents via email and that they be more responsive when asked about grades or progress of your children.

The building is depressing. There are more water stains than students. Enthused students were a rarity before covid, though covid was handled well. I felt engaged, as a parent. It was not the worst way to spend one year, but kids deserve better. The bathrooms reeked of teen sweat and despair. Additionally, the guidance counselors left much to be desired, as they gave poor advice, which cost both of my children a semester. I feel bad for the teachers that have to spend the majority of their careers in this "prison."