Best High Schools in South Carolina

High schools
245
Students
234,760
Avg actual
50%
Avg projected
37%
Impact
meet expectations

The top high schools in South Carolina, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Aiken Scholars Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

100%

Actual Test Scores

73%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Aiken 01 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 182 Students

2. Mayo High For Math Science & Technology

A+

SchoolGrade

97%

Actual Test Scores

63%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Darlington 01 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 334 Students

3. Hcs Early College High

A+

SchoolGrade

92%

Actual Test Scores

38%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Horry 01 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 313 Students

4. Greer Middle College Charter High

A+

SchoolGrade

91%

Actual Test Scores

55%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Sc Public Charter School District • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 510 Students

5. Brashier Middle College Charter High

A+

SchoolGrade

90%

Actual Test Scores

61%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Charter Institute At Erskine • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 461 Students

6. Charleston School Of The Arts

A+

SchoolGrade

87%

Actual Test Scores

71%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 1061 Students

7. Greenville Technical Charter High School

A+

SchoolGrade

82%

Actual Test Scores

56%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Sc Public Charter School District • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 498 Students

8. Lucy Garrett Beckham High

A+

SchoolGrade

81%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1673 Students

9. Gray Collegiate Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

79%

Actual Test Scores

55%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Charter Institute At Erskine • Charter • Grades 6 - 12 • 803 Students

10. Wando High

A+

SchoolGrade

79%

Actual Test Scores

79%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Underperforms Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2596 Students

See all 227 high schools here ranked

Best Middle Schools in South Carolina

Middle schools
249
Students
161,857
Avg actual
45%
Avg projected
37%
Impact
meet expectations

The top middle schools in South Carolina, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Buist Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 3 - 8 • 548 Students

2. Rollings Middle School Of The Arts

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

68%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 799 Students

3. Thomas C. Cario Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

81%

Actual Test Scores

78%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1125 Students

4. Forest Creek Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

81%

Actual Test Scores

59%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

York 04 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 751 Students

5. Gold Hill Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

80%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

York 04 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 855 Students

6. Moultrie Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

78%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1119 Students

7. Pleasant Knoll Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

78%

Actual Test Scores

70%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

York 04 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 961 Students

8. Southwood Academy For The Arts

A+

SchoolGrade

78%

Actual Test Scores

59%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Anderson 05 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 394 Students

9. Indian Land Intermediate

A+

SchoolGrade

77%

Actual Test Scores

69%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Lancaster 01 • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 1074 Students

10. Laing Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

76%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1012 Students

See all 228 middle schools here ranked

Best Elementary Schools in South Carolina

Elementary schools
820
Students
379,560
Avg actual
52%
Avg projected
35%
Impact
meet expectations

The top elementary schools in South Carolina, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Augusta Circle Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

77%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Greenville 01 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 557 Students

2. Sterling School

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

71%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Greenville 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 690 Students

3. Belle Hall Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

91%

Actual Test Scores

74%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 666 Students

4. Tigerville Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

89%

Actual Test Scores

48%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Greenville 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 285 Students

5. Sullivan's Island Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

81%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 475 Students

6. Oakview Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

87%

Actual Test Scores

68%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Greenville 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 890 Students

7. Monarch Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

58%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Greenville 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 873 Students

8. Charles Pinckney Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 3 - 5 • 635 Students

9. Stone Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

61%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Greenville 01 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 534 Students

10. Mt. Pleasant Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Charleston 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 658 Students

See all 629 elementary schools here ranked

Education & Community Snapshot in South Carolina

State-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.

Community Factors

South Carolina has a total population of 5,118,425 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 90%, and 32% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Students in South Carolina

845,184

K-12 Students

High School Graduates

90%

Adults 25+ with HS diplomas

College Graduates

32%

Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher

Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood South Carolina.

Safety

Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.

Overall Crime Grade

D-

28.48 per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crime Grade

D

5.23 per 1,000 Residents

Property Crime Grade

D

23.24 per 1,000 Residents

Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in South Carolina.

Connectivity

Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for South Carolina.

ISP Report Card

B

Internet Infrastructure Grade

Average Download Speed

2,330 Mbps

Speed Most Residents Can Get

Digital Connectivity Index

58 / 100

ISP Connectivity Demand Report

To read more about these statistics, please visit South Carolina Internet Health Assessment.

Questions About Schools in South Carolina

How many schools are in South Carolina?

South Carolina has 1,497 public schools: 245 high schools, 249 middle schools and 820 elementary schools, serving 845,184 students in total.

How do schools in South Carolina perform on state tests?

On average, 1,497 schools in South Carolina score 51% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 37%, so on average schools in South Carolina meet expectations.

How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in South Carolina?

Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.

Best Schools in Cities Near South Carolina

Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.

North Carolina

  • Actual: 55%
  • Projected: 45%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Georgia

  • Actual: 39%
  • Projected: 40%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Virginia

  • Actual: 72%
  • Projected: 47%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Tennessee

  • Actual: 40%
  • Projected: 37%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
West Virginia

  • Actual: 30%
  • Projected: 34%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Alabama

  • Actual: 41%
  • Projected: 33%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Kentucky

  • Actual: 42%
  • Projected: 34%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Florida

  • Actual: 55%
  • Projected: 43%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
District of Columbia

  • Actual: 23%
  • Projected: 27%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Maryland

  • Actual: 36%
  • Projected: 35%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations

Every city and county in South Carolina

School rankings for each place: 749 cities, towns and neighborhoods, and 46 counties.

Counties

Cities and towns

School district map of South Carolina

Every public school district in South Carolina with graded schools. Hover for the district and its school count; click to open its page.

shaded by the district's average SchoolGrade, F to A; grey = not yet graded. Boundaries from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Districts without a page (fewer than three graded schools) are not linked.

Largest school districts in South Carolina

The 25 districts with the most graded schools in South Carolina. Each district page lists every one of its schools.