schoolsbycounty

South Carolina Schools & Education

School quality and education data for all 46 counties.

Avg Graduation Rate

84.2%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$7,165

Avg School Score

51/100

Total Schools

1,236

90 districts

State Overview

About Schools in South Carolina

Lean Funding Challenges Graduation Goals

South Carolina reports an average graduation rate of 84.2%, trailing the national average of 87.0%. The state operates with a lean budget, spending only $7,165 per pupil compared to the $13,000 national benchmark.

A State of Sharp Performance Gaps

Across 46 counties, graduation rates fluctuate drastically from a high of 92.0% in Lee County to a low of 67.3% in Richland County. School scores mirror this volatility, with the top-performing county outscoring the lowest by nearly 16 points.

Stretching the Dollar for Student Success

The state struggles with a massive spending range, as Fairfield County invests $11,084 per student while Dillon County spends just $5,650. Despite these disparities, the state average school score of 50.8 remains slightly above the national median of 50.0.

Fairfield and Darlington Lead the Pack

Fairfield County holds the top school score of 60.8, supported by the state's highest per-pupil investment. Meanwhile, Darlington County proves highly efficient, securing a 91.1% graduation rate with a more modest budget of $7,295.

Mixed Results Amidst Limited Resources

South Carolina delivers school performance that meets national medians despite spending nearly 45% less than the typical U.S. school district. Families find the strongest academic outcomes in Fairfield and Darlington, where graduation rates consistently exceed 87%.

All South Carolina Counties

CountySchool Score
Fairfield County61/100
Beaufort County55/100
Darlington County55/100
Aiken County55/100
Bamberg County54/100
Allendale County54/100
Dorchester County54/100
Calhoun County54/100
York County53/100
Charleston County53/100
Hampton County53/100
Oconee County53/100
Georgetown County53/100
Spartanburg County53/100
Marion County52/100
Abbeville County52/100
Lee County52/100
Newberry County52/100
Williamsburg County52/100
Edgefield County52/100
Clarendon County51/100
Anderson County51/100
Chesterfield County51/100
Florence County51/100
Greenville County51/100
Horry County51/100
Pickens County51/100
Cherokee County50/100
Kershaw County50/100
Greenwood County50/100
Barnwell County50/100
Lancaster County50/100
McCormick County49/100
Laurens County49/100
Chester County48/100
Richland County48/100
Berkeley County48/100
Dillon County48/100
Jasper County48/100
Saluda County47/100
Orangeburg County47/100
Sumter County47/100
Colleton County47/100
Lexington County46/100
Union County46/100
Marlboro County45/100

— = data pending from NCES pipeline.

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Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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