Royal Live Oaks Academy Ranks in Top 1% of S.C. Elementary Schools

HARDEEVILLE, SC. (WTOC) -Excellence was not just recognized, it was rewarded at Royal Live Oaks Academy.

Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts and Sciences has been named among the top 1% of elementary schools in South Carolina, earning $25,000 in academic performance bonuses and a slate of statewide honors for the 2024–2025 school year.

The awards were announced during the Academic Showcase hosted by the Charter Institute at Erskine on Jan. 7. The school’s elementary program received an Overall Good report card rating, earning $10,000, and an additional $5,000 for being the only school in the Institute’s portfolio to earn an Excellent student progress rating for four consecutive years. The high school also earned an Overall Good rating and a $10,000 performance bonus.

Royal Live Oaks Academy’s elementary school was also named the 2025 Math Trailblazer, ranking in the top 1% statewide for student progress and achieving the highest elementary math growth across the Institute’s schools.

Additional honors followed across grade levels. The elementary school earned Gold School of Distinction, a Palmetto Silver Award from the South Carolina Department of Education, and a Culture of Excellence award for school climate. The middle school received Silver School of Distinction and a Culture of Excellence award, while the high school earned Platinum School of Distinction for performance in core subjects and college and career readiness.

“These recognitions underscore that Royal Live Oaks Academy is setting the standard for academic performance in our area,” said Executive Director Dr. Karen Wicks, noting the school’s consistent growth and focus on college readiness.

Royal Live Oaks Academy is a K–12 public charter school in Jasper County, emphasizing project-based learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The school is authorized through the Charter Institute at Erskine.