Laurens County Schools & Education
Laurens County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
32/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
78.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
78.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,672
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
32/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#25
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Laurens County
Measured School Summary
Laurens County faces educational challenges with a school score of 32/100 and a graduation rate of 78.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,672 per pupil, Laurens County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 3% below the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 5.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Laurens 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
18 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
32/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #25 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
78.4%
5.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,672
$507 above the state average
School coverage
18
2 districts 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
Laurens County has 18 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 Laurens 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.
Review-carefully county
Laurens County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#25
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 1 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.
Laurens 55
Elementary to high school visible
5,344 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Laurens 56
Elementary to high school visible
2,715 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Laurens 55 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 Laurens County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Laurens 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 Laurens 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.
Dual-District Schooling in Laurens
Laurens County features 18 public schools that serve a total of 8,840 students. The system is split across two districts, providing a mix of 11 elementary schools and specialized secondary campuses.
High Investment Amidst Academic Goals
The county spends $7,672 per pupil, which is notably higher than the state average of $7,165. However, the graduation rate of 78.4% trails the state average, indicating an area where the county is focusing on future improvements.
A Tale of Two Districts
Laurens 55 is the larger of the two districts with 5,344 students, followed by Laurens 56 with 2,715 students. The county also supports two charter schools, making up about 11% of the total educational facilities available.
A Mix of Rural and Town Life
Education here is evenly split between rural and town settings, with schools like Laurens District 55 High serving 1,554 students. The average school size is a manageable 491 students, offering a blend of larger high schools and smaller elementary campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
18
in Laurens County
Reported Enrollment
8,840
18 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
2
11% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Laurens County
Laurens 55
GuideLaurens 56
18 Public Schools in Laurens County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 18 of 18 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens District 55 High | Profile | Laurens 55 | Laurens, 29360Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,554 |
| Clinton High | Record | Laurens 56 | Clinton, 29325Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 781 |
| Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle | Record | Laurens 55 | Gray Court, 29645Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 763 |
| Clinton Middle | Record | Laurens 56 | Clinton, 29325Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 663 |
| Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle | Record | Laurens 55 | Gray Court, 29645Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 649 |
| Laurens Elementary | Record | Laurens 55 | Laurens, 29360Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 504 |
| Eastside Elementary | Record | Laurens 56 | Clinton, 29325Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 466 |
| E. B. Morse Elementary | Record | Laurens 55 | Laurens, 29360Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 457 |
| Ford Elementary | Record | Laurens 55 | Laurens, 29360Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 416 |
| Laurens Middle | Record | Laurens 55 | Laurens, 29360Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 399 |
| Clinton Elementary | Record | Laurens 56 | Clinton, 29325Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 383 |
| Ware Shoals Primary | Record | Greenwood 51 | Ware Shoals, 29692Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 370 |
| Sanders Middle | Record | Laurens 55 | Laurens, 29360Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 331 |
| Thornwell Charter School | Record | Charter Institute at Erskine | Clinton, 29325Town: Distant | KG–10 | Charter | 299 |
| Joanna Woodson Elementary | Record | Laurens 56 | Joanna, 29351Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 288 |
| Waterloo Elementary | Record | Laurens 55 | Waterloo, 29384Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 271 |
| M. S. Bailey Child Development Center | Record | Laurens 56 | Clinton, 29325Town: Distant | PK | Other | 134 |
| Summit Classical School | Record | Charter Institute at Erskine | Clinton, 29325Town: Distant | KG–6 | Charter | 112 |
Laurens District 55 High
Laurens 55
Laurens, 29360 / Rural: Fringe
Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle
Laurens 55
Gray Court, 29645 / Rural: Fringe
Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle
Laurens 55
Gray Court, 29645 / Rural: Distant
Thornwell Charter School
Charter Institute at Erskine
Clinton, 29325 / Town: Distant
M. S. Bailey Child Development Center
Laurens 56
Clinton, 29325 / Town: Distant
Summit Classical School
Charter Institute at Erskine
Clinton, 29325 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,672
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Laurens 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 Laurens County?
What is the graduation rate in Laurens County?
How much does Laurens County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Laurens County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Laurens County, South Carolina?
Laurens County features 18 public schools that serve a total of 8,840 students. The system is split across two districts, providing a mix of 11 elementary schools and specialized secondary campuses.
How do schools in Laurens County perform academically?
The county spends $7,672 per pupil, which is notably higher than the state average of $7,165. However, the graduation rate of 78.4% trails the state average, indicating an area where the county is focusing on future improvements.
What are the major school districts in Laurens County, South Carolina?
Laurens 55 is the larger of the two districts with 5,344 students, followed by Laurens 56 with 2,715 students. The county also supports two charter schools, making up about 11% of the total educational facilities available.
What is the school experience like in Laurens County?
Education here is evenly split between rural and town settings, with schools like Laurens District 55 High serving 1,554 students. The average school size is a manageable 491 students, offering a blend of larger high schools and smaller elementary campuses.
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.