schoolsbycounty

Lexington County Schools & Education

School Score

25/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

74.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

74.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.2%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,338

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,165

School Score

25/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 33/100

State Score Position

#35

of 46 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lexington County

Measured School Summary

Lexington County faces educational challenges with a school score of 25/100 and a graduation rate of 74.1%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,338 per pupil, Lexington County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 23% below the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 10.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lexington 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

73 public schools and 4 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

25/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #35 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

74.1%

10.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,338

$173 above the state average

School coverage

73

4 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

Lexington County has 73 public schools across 4 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.

Parent decision brief

What Lexington 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

Lexington 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

#35

of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 8 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.

Lexington 01

Elementary to high school visible

28,031 students

Elementary 17Middle 8High 6Other 0

31 listed schools in this county slice.

Lexington 02

Elementary to high school visible

8,626 students

Elementary 6Middle 4High 3Other 0

13 listed schools in this county slice.

Lexington 04

Elementary to high school visible

3,544 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 1Other 1

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Lexington 03

Elementary to high school visible

1,977 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Lexington 01 is the largest listed district slice, with 31 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 Lexington County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lexington 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 Lexington 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 Massive and Diverse Suburban System

Lexington County supports a vast network of 73 public schools, serving an impressive 62,874 students. This extensive infrastructure includes 36 elementary, 18 middle, and 16 high schools across four distinct districts.

A Multi-District Educational Hub

Lexington 01 is the largest district, serving over 28,000 students alone. The county is also a major center for charter education, with six charter schools including the massive SC Connections Academy, which enrolls over 6,200 students.

Suburban Excellence and Virtual Options

With an average size of 886 students, schools here often feel like large, bustling communities. Most campuses are located in suburban settings, though the county also hosts large virtual schools that serve students across the entire region.

School Overview

Total Schools

73

in Lexington County

Reported Enrollment

62,874

73 schools reporting

School Districts

4

districts

Charter Schools

6

8% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary36
Middle18
High16
Other3

73 Public Schools in Lexington County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 15 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 73 matching schools

SC Connections Academy

Charter Institute at Erskine

Columbia, 29210 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–12CharterVirtual6,263 students

South Carolina Virtual Charter School

Charter Institute at Erskine

West Columbia, 29169 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–12CharterVirtual2,912 students

Lexington High

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29072 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,410 students

White Knoll High

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29073 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,204 students

River Bluff High

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29072 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,197 students

Chapin High

Lexington 05

Chapin, 29036 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,615 students

Airport High

Lexington 02

West Columbia, 29170 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,428 students

Irmo High

Lexington 05

Columbia, 29212 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,307 students

Brookland-Cayce High

Lexington 02

Cayce, 29033 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,171 students

Gilbert High

Lexington 01

Gilbert, 29054 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,118 students

Riverbank Elementary

Lexington 02

West Columbia, 29169 / Suburb: Large

ProfilePK–5Primary1,015 students

Beechwood Middle

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29072 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,014 students

Irmo Middle

Lexington 05

Columbia, 29212 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,011 students

Cayce Elementary

Lexington 02

Cayce, 29033 / Suburb: Large

ProfilePK–5Primary998 students

Herbert A. Wood Elementary

Lexington 02

West Columbia, 29172 / Suburb: Large

ProfilePK–5Primary967 students

Carolina Springs Middle

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29073 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle914 students

Chapin Intermediate

Lexington 05

Chapin, 29036 / Suburb: Large

Record5–6Middle913 students

Lake Murray Elementary

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29072 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary901 students

Pleasant Hill Elementary

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29072 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary898 students

Midway Elementary

Lexington 01

Lexington, 29072 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary891 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,338

State avg $7,165

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lexington County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which South Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
Lee County (92.0%), Darlington County (91.1%), and Dorchester County (91.1%) currently lead South Carolina among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in South Carolina?
Across South Carolina counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,165. The highest current county values are Fairfield County ($11,084), Richland County ($10,146), and McCormick County ($8,932). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Lexington County?
Lexington County has a school score of 25/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Lexington County?
The high school graduation rate in Lexington County is 74.1%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Lexington County spend per student?
Lexington County spends $7,338 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Lexington County, South Carolina — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Lexington County, South Carolina?

Lexington County supports a vast network of 73 public schools, serving an impressive 62,874 students. This extensive infrastructure includes 36 elementary, 18 middle, and 16 high schools across four distinct districts.

What are the major school districts in Lexington County, South Carolina?

Lexington 01 is the largest district, serving over 28,000 students alone. The county is also a major center for charter education, with six charter schools including the massive SC Connections Academy, which enrolls over 6,200 students.

What is the school experience like in Lexington County?

With an average size of 886 students, schools here often feel like large, bustling communities. Most campuses are located in suburban settings, though the county also hosts large virtual schools that serve students across the entire region.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.