Sam Thompson
Awendaw, SC 29429

This school is massive and student's get lost in the shuffle. Teachers can't remember their names or have any personal connection to the students. Drugs are rampant and it's a frightening place to be for a young student. I do not recommend purchasing a new home in this area because if you do you have to consider a private school. Academics are completely watered down so that administrators can keep up appearances and rankings.

Above all, the best thing about St. James-Santee Elementary is our wonderful sense of community. We have students that come from many miles away, from different backgrounds and kinds of families; some who have been in the area for generations while others have only recently moved here. But inside our little brick school, we are a close-knit family. We know each others' names and interests. We stay happy and healthy and well-fed. Students learn in small classes, from teachers who love their jobs enough to drive 40 miles to work every single day, and be here long before the sun even comes up (and sometimes stay until after it has gone down). Yes, our school may not have the best test scores in the district. But are standardized tests really more important than growth and improvement? More important than having teachers who love their students and are dedicated to making sure they succeed? I personally do not yet have children, but when I do, I hope they have the opportunity to attend a school as wonderful as our little St. James-Santee.