Darlington County Schools & Education
Darlington County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,295
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#2
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Darlington County
Measured School Summary
Darlington County performs at an average level with a school score of 53/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.1%.
Funding Context
At $7,295 per pupil, Darlington County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 60% above the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 6.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Darlington 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
21 public schools and 2 districts 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
53/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #2 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
91.1%
6.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,295
$130 above the state average
School coverage
21
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Darlington County has 21 public schools across 2 districts, 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 Darlington 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
Darlington 01 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 19 of 21 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#2
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 20 points above 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.
Darlington 01
Elementary to high school visible
9,042 students
19 listed schools in this county slice.
Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
High school only in this slice
257 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Darlington 01 is the largest listed district slice, with 19 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 Darlington County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Darlington County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Darlington 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.
A Diverse School System in Darlington
Darlington County features 21 public schools including 12 elementary and six high schools. This robust network serves 9,587 students across two distinct school districts.
Darlington Leads with High Graduation Rates
The county boasts an impressive 91.1% graduation rate, significantly higher than both the state and national averages. Spending of $7,295 per pupil also exceeds the state average of $7,165.
Specialized Districts and Charter Options
Darlington 01 is the largest district with 9,042 students. The county is also home to the prestigious Governor's School for Science and Mathematics and one local charter school.
From Towns to Suburbs
The school landscape is balanced with eight rural, seven town, and six suburban locales. Hartsville High is the largest school with 1,133 students, while Darlington High serves 1,054.
School Overview
Total Schools
21
in Darlington County
Reported Enrollment
9,587
21 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
5% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Darlington County
Darlington 01
GuideGovernor's School for Science and Mathematics
21 Public Schools in Darlington 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 20 of 21 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsville High | Profile | Darlington 01 | Hartsville, 29550Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,133 |
| Darlington High | Profile | Darlington 01 | Darlington, 29532Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,054 |
| Hartsville Middle | Record | Darlington 01 | Hartsville, 29550Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 921 |
| Darlington Middle | Record | Darlington 01 | Darlington, 29532Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 919 |
| J. L. Cain Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Darlington, 29532Suburb: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 551 |
| Bay Road Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Hartsville, 29550Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 540 |
| St. John's Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Darlington, 29532Suburb: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 535 |
| North Hartsville Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Hartsville, 29550Town: Distant | 1–5 | Primary | 527 |
| Lamar-Spaulding Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Lamar, 29069Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 466 |
| Pate Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Darlington, 29532Suburb: Small | PK–2 | Primary | 410 |
| Mayo High For Math Science & Technology | Record | Darlington 01 | Darlington, 29532Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 334 |
| Southside Early Childhood Center | Record | Darlington 01 | Hartsville, 29550Town: Distant | PK–KG | Primary | 324 |
| Brockington Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Darlington, 29532Suburb: Small | 3–5 | Primary | 316 |
| Butler Academy | Record | SC Public Charter School District | Hartsville, 29550Town: Distant | KG–6 | Charter | 288 |
| Lamar High | Record | Darlington 01 | Lamar, 29069Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 269 |
| SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics | Record | Governor's School for Science and Mathematics | Hartsville, 29550Town: Distant | 11–12 | High | 257 |
| Carolina Elementary | Record | Darlington 01 | Hartsville, 29550Town: Distant | 1–5 | Primary | 228 |
| Spaulding Middle | Record | Darlington 01 | Lamar, 29069Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 204 |
| Thornwell School for the Arts | Record | Darlington 01 | Hartsville, 29550Town: Distant | 1–5 | Primary | 181 |
| Rosenwald Elementary/Middle | Record | Darlington 01 | Society Hill, 29593Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 130 |
Hartsville High
Darlington 01
Hartsville, 29550 / Town: Distant
Darlington High
Darlington 01
Darlington, 29532 / Suburb: Small
North Hartsville Elementary
Darlington 01
Hartsville, 29550 / Town: Distant
Mayo High For Math Science & Technology
Darlington 01
Darlington, 29532 / Suburb: Small
Southside Early Childhood Center
Darlington 01
Hartsville, 29550 / Town: Distant
Butler Academy
SC Public Charter School District
Hartsville, 29550 / Town: Distant
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Hartsville, 29550 / Town: Distant
Thornwell School for the Arts
Darlington 01
Hartsville, 29550 / Town: Distant
Rosenwald Elementary/Middle
Darlington 01
Society Hill, 29593 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,295
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Darlington 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 Darlington County?
What is the graduation rate in Darlington County?
How much does Darlington County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Darlington County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Darlington County, South Carolina?
Darlington County features 21 public schools including 12 elementary and six high schools. This robust network serves 9,587 students across two distinct school districts.
How do schools in Darlington County perform academically?
The county boasts an impressive 91.1% graduation rate, significantly higher than both the state and national averages. Spending of $7,295 per pupil also exceeds the state average of $7,165.
What are the major school districts in Darlington County, South Carolina?
Darlington 01 is the largest district with 9,042 students. The county is also home to the prestigious Governor's School for Science and Mathematics and one local charter school.
What is the school experience like in Darlington County?
The school landscape is balanced with eight rural, seven town, and six suburban locales. Hartsville High is the largest school with 1,133 students, while Darlington High serves 1,054.
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.