Lee County Schools & Education
Lee County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,736
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#17
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lee County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 38/100, Lee County maintains a strong graduation rate of 92.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,736 per pupil, Lee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% above the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 20% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lee 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
7 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
38/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #17 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
7.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,736
$1,429 below the state average
School coverage
7
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
Lee County has 7 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 Lee 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.
Small-system county
Lee County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#17
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 5 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.
Lee 01
Elementary to high school visible
1,476 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Dept Of Correction N04
High school only in this slice
5 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Dept Of Correction N04 is the largest listed district slice, with 12 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 Lee County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lee 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 Lee 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.
Exceptional Outcomes in a Small System
Lee County operates a compact educational network of seven public schools serving ,1688 students. This specialized landscape includes three elementary schools, two high schools, and one middle school.
Leading the State in Graduation Rates
Lee County achieves a remarkable 92.0% graduation rate, far exceeding both the state average of 84.2% and the national 87% benchmark. This success is even more impressive given a per-pupil expenditure of just $5,736, the lowest in this regional group.
Unique District Management in Lee
The Lee 01 district serves 1,476 students across five schools, while a secondary district focuses on specialized education. One charter school, Pee Dee Math Science & Tech, provides a specialized KG-12 option for over 200 local students.
Small Schools in a Rural Setting
With an average school size of only 241 students, Lee County offers one of the most intimate public school experiences in South Carolina. Nearly all schools are located in rural areas, where even the largest high school, Lee Central, enrolls only 450 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Lee County
Reported Enrollment
1,688
7 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
14% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Lee County
Lee 01
Dept Of Correction N04
7 Public Schools in Lee 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 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Central High | Record | Lee 01 | Bishopville, 29010Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 450 |
| Dennis Elementary | Record | Lee 01 | Bishopville, 29010Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 393 |
| Lee Central Middle | Record | Lee 01 | Bishopville, 29010Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 358 |
| Pee Dee Math Sci & Tech | Record | SC Public Charter School District | Bishopville, 29010Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 207 |
| Lower Lee Elementary | Record | Lee 01 | Mayesville, 29104Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 175 |
| West Lee Elementary | Record | Lee 01 | Rembert, 29128Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 100 |
| Lee High | Record | Dept Of Correction N04 | Bishopville, 29010Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | Alternative | 5 |
Pee Dee Math Sci & Tech
SC Public Charter School District
Bishopville, 29010 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,736
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lee 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 Lee County?
What is the graduation rate in Lee County?
How much does Lee County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lee County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lee County, South Carolina?
Lee County operates a compact educational network of seven public schools serving ,1688 students. This specialized landscape includes three elementary schools, two high schools, and one middle school.
How do schools in Lee County perform academically?
Lee County achieves a remarkable 92.0% graduation rate, far exceeding both the state average of 84.2% and the national 87% benchmark. This success is even more impressive given a per-pupil expenditure of just $5,736, the lowest in this regional group.
What are the major school districts in Lee County, South Carolina?
The Lee 01 district serves 1,476 students across five schools, while a secondary district focuses on specialized education. One charter school, Pee Dee Math Science & Tech, provides a specialized KG-12 option for over 200 local students.
What is the school experience like in Lee County?
With an average school size of only 241 students, Lee County offers one of the most intimate public school experiences in South Carolina. Nearly all schools are located in rural areas, where even the largest high school, Lee Central, enrolls only 450 students.
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.