St. Andrews School Of Math And Science

30 Chadwick Drive

School District

Charleston 01
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Charleston 01 School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 25, 2024

We love SASMS!!!! My daughter is in 2nd grade and has attended since kindergarten. She is excited to go each day, loves the engaging curriculum and special contests. I love how diverse the “special areas” are - she has art, music, stem, makers space, library, P.E, and second steps. Second steps focuses on emotional intelligence and understanding how other children are feeling. Her teachers each year have been unique and special. She is in classes with a children from diverse backgrounds, which is very important to us.The principal and assistant principal are engaged, and the PTA has great events, so you can meet other parents and feel a part of the community!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2023

My students and I LOVE being part of the SASMS family! The teachers are wonderful, the principal and assistant principal are great, front desk staff is always on point, all the staff is terrific. The house system is fun, we have Carver and Newton representing! We have had issues with the buses but Mr. Taylor always keeps us in the loop. I can't recommend SASMS enough.
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2022

My child started St. Andrew's School of Math and Science this fall. I have had nothing but warm and positive experiences with the principal. The principal's call outs (hilarious yet informative!), interactions at school functions, and car line waves are unmatched. The principal consistently answers emails promptly and has welcomed my family with open arms. My child's teacher is outstanding. The amount of communication and feedback is wonderful. My child comes home happy every day and excited to tell us what was learned. St. Andrew's School of Math and Science has a so many extra curricular activities for students to partake. My child has joined every single one! The front office staff is so kind and welcoming. I am always greeted with a smile. I am so appreciative and grateful to the principal, my child's teacher, and every staff member at St. Andrew's School of Math and Science for making this transition so seamless and positive.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2022

We love St. Andrews School of Math and Science! I was surprised to see that it only got a 3.4/5 on Great Schools. We have had nothing but great experiences with this school. I have two children at SASMS - my rising 4th grader has been there since kindergarten and has absolutely loved all of her teachers. Same for my rising 2nd grader. The SASMS parents are very involved and I think that says a lot about the school. Is it perfect? Of course not, but it is a very, very good school. I would recommend it to anyone.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2022

I have a fifth grader at this school and we are glad it is our last year there. It’s fine if you never have any problems there. But if you do you can expect to be pushed aside. There are major problems there that they do a great job of hiding. We have had wonderful experiences there through virtual and in person. It’s unfortunate because the school used to be top notch. I have had a similar experience as one of the previous parents on here. My child had major problems with some classmates and nothing was done. I had planned on sending my second child there but would never consider that after the experience I have had with this new principal. He comes off as very dismissive and very unprofessional.These schools have the potential to make major changes in a child’s educational path. It’s great if it’s positive. But it can be devastating when it’s a negative experience. If you have never experienced a child completely changing because of being bullied then consider yourself fortunate. The expectation is that they will be protected physically and mentally and in our case my child was not protected on either side. I think they need to make some major changes at this school.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2022

I am a parent of a 2nd grader at SASMS and have a rising kindergartener for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. My 2nd grader’s kindergarten year at SASMS was interrupted by COVID, his 1st grade year was half virtual and half in-person and this year (2nd grade) has been the most ‘normal’ so far. We have been and continue to be so thankful for the SASMS community- from the faculty, staff, admin, support, PTA, extracurriculars and everything in between. My student feels well supported, confident and curious at SASMS! Thank you to everyone who has made this school the best school we could ask for!!!
Submitted by other on April 25, 2022

There hasn’t been a review on this school in years. This year a new principal took over. A lot of things have changed at this school. The prior principal was extremely hands on and a very effective leader. However this new principal is not able to maintain the same level of integrity. There is a major problem with bullying at this school. The teachers are doing their best. There are a lot of good teachers. There have been a lot of changes due to Covid. But this school’s administration remains solely focused on their testing numbers and not the well being of the students. I have known at least 8 families that have dealt with their child being bullied. I know of several that have pulled their children out at different times of the school year. The administration is ineffective at handling these issues. The reality of this school is that they push and push the kids with heavy workloads. Those testing numbers are their main focus. No field trips. No family gatherings at restaurants. Very minimal opportunities for any sort of extracurricular activities. Nothing to help integrate the kids or promote any social cohesion what so ever. No clear action plan to stop the bullying. A lot of parents are unaware of what is really going on in this school because the administration is not forthcoming with the issues they are having. Parents don’t want to lose their school choice lottery position under the belief that they are making a sound educational choice for their child based on their numbers. The curriculum is very good. However the social environment is very much in trouble. There are large discrepancies in the equal treatment of the students.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2017

It has been great. My daughter is a rising 5th grader and has been very happy with St. Andrews since kindergarten. She is a A student and has always been on the Principal's List. She enjoys all the extracurricular activities: GS Programming, Robotics Club, Art Club, Drama Troupe, Tennis Team. The principal is great and has great leadership skills and is very popular among the students and parents. All the teachers are effective. We love St. Andrews!
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2017

I have had children at St. Andrew's for 7 years now. Principal Cario is a truly wonderful leader, with a can-do attitude and amazing dedication (I have seen her shaking out rugs behind the building, tying a kindergartner's shoe, and I once witnessed her calmly walk a half a mile with a distraught 7th grader from a neighboring school who had missed his bus and was trying to run away; Cario convinced him to turn around and go to school). With Principal Cario at the helm, it is not surprising that the overall attitude at the school is positive, friendly, and encouraging. My children have had excellent teachers, who are nurturing and fun, and who inspire the children to succeed and to master difficult concepts. Another thing I love about St. Andrew's is that it beautifully combines students from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds into cohesive classrooms. I strongly believe that Charleston County needs more schools that do the same. Oh, and the (brand new) building is beyond fabulous...but the school itself was excellent even when half of it was in trailers.
Submitted by other on January 30, 2017

Amazing administration, seasoned and engaging teachers and a diverse and hard working student body. We love the STEM focus.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2016

Engaged PTA, responsive teachers, strong administrative leadership, professional and friendly staff. I see lots of happy children when I am there!
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2014

My daughter deteriorated in 6 weeks in Kindergarten last year. We tried to discuss the multiple behavior issues with her teacher who repeatedly blew us off. When we finally got a meeting with her teacher at the six week mark, she cut the meeting short so she could attend a teachers workshop. We drove around the school only to find her exercising in the school yard. I dont believe sprints, pushups and situps constitute as a teachers workshop. We pulled our daughter out and placed her in a private Montessori school on Hwy 17 in West Ashley and she loved it. She asked me if she could stay! That is the enthusiasm I had hoped for at SASMS not tears. The Administration staff also seemed disorganized. They also let my 5 year old daughter ride on a unauthorized private afterschool bus without our consent. They did later apologize after we went to pick her up to take her to the afterschool program and she was not there at the school. She had taken the afterschool transportation (karate mini-bus). While waiting in the Administration office for our teachers meeting, the Administration staff seemed confused on what to do with another child whose transportation was also in question. Not cool.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2014

FYI, our son has attended S.A for 3 years, is a straight A student & we're highly involved parents(pta, volunteers,etc.). 1st, a contradiction exists in S.A.'s title as "School of Math & Science". Compare test results to see why. S.A. does not place an emphasis on math and science. Strict adherence to Common Core leaves little time for kids to learn anything more than how to take PASS tests (also our son's experience). S.A. teachers appear to focus on helping the lower 20% improve at the cost of the mid-to-high level kids (not always a teacher's fault b/c test scores affect funding). Open (2) tabs,one for S.A. and one for neighboring Summerville's Newington Elementary on this site to compare. You'll see a big difference. Toured NES recently to see why and were amazed at their enthusiasm and teacher participation in all events (stark contrast to S.A.). NES has an award winning robotics team & doesn't dumb down science and math, and supports creative teaching methods. S.A.'s gifted and talented program (a joke) is a mere 2 hours a week vs. NES's every day, all day program ( to help their brightest excel). We sadly will be moving to S'ville to give our kids a better education.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2013

SASMS provides a very nurturing environment and plenty of hands-on learning experiences. I have 2 children here and highly recommend the school to those who are looking. I do like that it is a partial magnet, with a combination of neighborhood kids and other kids from throughout the district. They do have a exceptional principal and very active PTA.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2012

I have had a mixed experience at the school. On one hand my girls have had great teachers. However, my sons first grade year was a distaster. The teacher was rude and yelled at many of the children. I learned they had many parents complain but little was done. She is still there and I think her presence is an insult to the great teachers who deserve the spotlight.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2012

I have to agree about how disappointed i am about this school. Any child is accepted in this school and it amazing me how many children attend this school. This is my child's second year here, I absolutely love his teacher , she is the absolutely the best, however i believe that my child has been exposed to bullying, inappropriate touching and language. This will be the last year that my child attends this school since their seems to be a lot of troubled students that attend this school..
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2012

My child attends SASMS. I am extremely dissappointed in this school. They scream at the children. They are not caring and nurturing at ALL! They cram so many students( more than ccsd allows, I checked), and they have the rudest front staff ever! I had heard so many good things about this school, and was excited when I was contacted for my child to test. I wish I had NEVER accepted! All of the good reviews on here is baffling to me! Maybe they got a better teacher. I have heard that there are a few of those. My child LOVED school and now begs not to go each day. I am so unsatisfied and furious at how I do not feel informed and how I have to ask everything. I am very active in my childs education and feel at times I anger the teachers and staff because I want my child to succeed! I will be going to another school!!! Please do not send your child here. I am not overreacting, it is terrible!