Fairfield County Schools & Education
Fairfield County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,084
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#1
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Fairfield County
Measured School Summary
Fairfield County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.0%.
Funding Context
Fairfield County spends $11,084 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 90% above the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 55% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Fairfield 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
63/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #1 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
87.0%
2.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$11,084
$3,919 above the state average
School coverage
9
1 district 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
Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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
Fairfield 01 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 8 of 9 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#1
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 30 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.
Fairfield 01
Elementary to high school visible
2,278 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Fairfield 01 is the largest listed district slice, with 8 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 Fairfield 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?
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 Fairfield 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.
Focused Schooling in Fairfield County
Fairfield County supports 2,486 students across nine public schools within a single consolidated district. The infrastructure includes five elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This compact system allows for a highly centralized approach to public education.
Unified District with Magnet Options
The Fairfield 01 district manages nearly all local education, overseeing eight schools and 2,278 students. One school in the county operates as a charter, and the county also hosts specialized institutions like the Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science. These diverse offerings provide unique pathways for the county's relatively small student population.
Quiet Campuses and Personal Scale
With an average school size of only 311 students, Fairfield offers one of the most personal educational experiences in South Carolina. Eight of the nine schools are rural, creating a quiet and focused environment for learning. Fairfield Central High is the largest hub with 662 students, ensuring that even the biggest campus feels manageable.
School Overview
Total Schools
9
in Fairfield County
Reported Enrollment
2,486
9 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
1
11% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Fairfield County
Fairfield 01
9 Public Schools in Fairfield County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Central High | Record | Fairfield 01 | Winnsboro, 29180Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 662 |
| Fairfield Elementary | Record | Fairfield 01 | Winnsboro, 29180Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 463 |
| Fairfield Middle | Record | Fairfield 01 | Winnsboro, 29180Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 337 |
| Geiger Elementary | Record | Fairfield 01 | Ridgeway, 29130Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 259 |
| Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science | Record | Fairfield 01 | Winnsboro, 29180Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 217 |
| Midlands STEM Institute | Record | Charter Institute at Erskine | Winnsboro, 29180Town: Distant | PK–12 | Charter | 208 |
| Kelly Miller Elementary | Record | Fairfield 01 | Winnsboro, 29180Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 205 |
| McCrorey-Liston School of Technology | Record | Fairfield 01 | Blair, 29015Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 135 |
| Fairfield Career and Technology Center | Record | Fairfield 01 | Winnsboro, 29180Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science
Fairfield 01
Winnsboro, 29180 / Rural: Fringe
Midlands STEM Institute
Charter Institute at Erskine
Winnsboro, 29180 / Town: Distant
McCrorey-Liston School of Technology
Fairfield 01
Blair, 29015 / Rural: Distant
Fairfield Career and Technology Center
Fairfield 01
Winnsboro, 29180 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$11,084
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Fairfield 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 Fairfield County?
What is the graduation rate in Fairfield County?
How much does Fairfield County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Fairfield County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Fairfield County, South Carolina?
Fairfield County supports 2,486 students across nine public schools within a single consolidated district. The infrastructure includes five elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This compact system allows for a highly centralized approach to public education.
What are the major school districts in Fairfield County, South Carolina?
The Fairfield 01 district manages nearly all local education, overseeing eight schools and 2,278 students. One school in the county operates as a charter, and the county also hosts specialized institutions like the Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science. These diverse offerings provide unique pathways for the county's relatively small student population.
What is the school experience like in Fairfield County?
With an average school size of only 311 students, Fairfield offers one of the most personal educational experiences in South Carolina. Eight of the nine schools are rural, creating a quiet and focused environment for learning. Fairfield Central High is the largest hub with 662 students, ensuring that even the biggest campus feels manageable.
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.