Colleton County Schools & Education
Colleton County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
19/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
78.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
78.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,660
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
19/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#39
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Colleton County
Measured School Summary
Colleton County faces educational challenges with a school score of 19/100 and a graduation rate of 78.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,660 per pupil, Colleton County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 44% below the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 6.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Colleton County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
9 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
19/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #39 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
78.0%
6.2 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,660
$505 below the state average
School coverage
9
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Colleton County has 9 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Colleton County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Colleton 01 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 9 of 9 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#39
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Colleton 01
Elementary to high school visible
4,946 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Colleton 01 is the largest listed district slice, with 9 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Colleton County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Colleton County, South Carolina
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Colleton's School Infrastructure
Colleton County operates nine public schools, including six elementary schools and one large central middle school. The district manages the education of 4,946 total students.
The Centralized Colleton 01 District
Colleton 01 is the sole district for the county, providing a unified curriculum for all 4,946 students. The district currently operates without charter schools, focusing on its traditional campus network.
Large Schools in a Rural Landscape
Despite the rural setting, school sizes are significant, with an average of 618 students. Colleton County High is the largest campus, serving 1,497 students, followed by Colleton County Middle with 1,121.
School Overview
Total Schools
9
in Colleton County
Reported Enrollment
4,946
9 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Colleton County
9 Public Schools in Colleton County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 9 of 9 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleton County High | Profile | Colleton 01 | Walterboro, 29488Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,497 |
| Colleton County Middle | Profile | Colleton 01 | Walterboro, 29488Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 1,121 |
| Forest Hills Elementary | Record | Colleton 01 | Walterboro, 29488Town: Distant | 1–5 | Primary | 469 |
| Cottageville Elementary | Record | Colleton 01 | Cottageville, 29435Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 465 |
| Northside Elementary | Record | Colleton 01 | Walterboro, 29488Rural: Fringe | 1–5 | Primary | 452 |
| Hendersonville Elementary | Record | Colleton 01 | Walterboro, 29488Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 342 |
| Black Street Early Childhood Center | Record | Colleton 01 | Walterboro, 29488Town: Distant | PK–KG | Primary | 309 |
| Bells Elementary | Record | Colleton 01 | Ruffin, 29475Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 291 |
| Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center | Record | Colleton 01 | Walterboro, 29488Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Colleton County High
Colleton 01
Walterboro, 29488 / Rural: Fringe
Colleton County Middle
Colleton 01
Walterboro, 29488 / Rural: Fringe
Black Street Early Childhood Center
Colleton 01
Walterboro, 29488 / Town: Distant
Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center
Colleton 01
Walterboro, 29488 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,660
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Colleton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in South Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Colleton County?
What is the graduation rate in Colleton County?
How much does Colleton County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Colleton County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Colleton County, South Carolina?
Colleton County operates nine public schools, including six elementary schools and one large central middle school. The district manages the education of 4,946 total students.
What are the major school districts in Colleton County, South Carolina?
Colleton 01 is the sole district for the county, providing a unified curriculum for all 4,946 students. The district currently operates without charter schools, focusing on its traditional campus network.
What is the school experience like in Colleton County?
Despite the rural setting, school sizes are significant, with an average of 618 students. Colleton County High is the largest campus, serving 1,497 students, followed by Colleton County Middle with 1,121.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.