South Carolina · NCES CCD 2024-25

Best-Resourced Public Schools in South Carolina

Top 50 schools ranked by resource quality score, based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance.

75/100
Top score
B+
Top grade
63/100
Avg score (top 50)
50
Schools ranked

The ranking in one line

Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science in Winnsboro is South Carolina's top-resourced public school, scoring 75/100 on the NCES resource index.

75/100
top score (grade B+)
1
schools at the top grade (B+)
63/100
average across the top 50
#SchoolGradeScore
1Fairfield Magnet for Math and ScienceWinnsboroB+75
2Mccrorey-Liston School of TechnologyBlairB73
3Orchard Park ElementaryFort MillB70
4Lady's Island ElementaryBeaufortB70
5Gadsden ElementaryGadsdenB-69
6Lakes and Bridges Charter SchoolEasleyB-68
7Diamond Hill ElementaryAbbevilleB-66
8Fort Mill MiddleFort MillB-65
9Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success CharterMyrtle BeachB-65
10Whitmire Community School (Elementary)WhitmireC+64
11Forest Creek MiddleFort MillC+63
12South Conway ElementaryConwayC+63
13Banks Trail MiddleFort MillC+63
14Carolina Voyager CharterCharlestonC+63
15Brockman ElementaryColumbiaC+63
16Youth Leadership AcademyPickensC+63
17A. C. Moore ElementaryColumbiaC+63
18Carolina ElementaryHartsvilleC+63
19Charleston Development AcademyCharlestonC+63
20John C. Calhoun ElementaryCalhoun FallsC+63
21Lakewood ElementaryMyrtle BeachC+62
22Sterling SchoolGreenvilleC+62
23Springfield MiddleFort MillC+62
24Greenville Technical Charter High SchoolGreenvilleC+62
25Lowcountry Leadership Charter SchoolMeggettC+62
26Monarch ElementaryUnionC+62
27Military Magnet AcademyNorth CharlestonC+62
28Tigerville ElementaryTaylorsC+62
29Brookdale ElementaryOrangeburgC+62
30Kelly Miller ElementaryWinnsboroC+62
31St. James Santee Elementary-MiddleMcClellanvilleC+62
32Pleasant Knoll MiddleFort MillC+61
33Gold Hill MiddleTega CayC+61
34Buist AcademyCharlestonC+61
35Riverside MiddlePendletonC+61
36T.E. Mabry MiddleInmanC+61
37East Cooper Montessori CharterMt. PleasantC+61
38Green Charter School of SpartanburgSpartanburgC+61
39Tall Pines Stem AcademyAikenC+61
40Meeting Street Academy-SpartanburgSpartanburgC+61
41Wright ElementaryBeltonC+61
42Child Development Center at Woods RoadFlorenceC+61
43Berkeley County Middle College HighMoncks CornerC+61
44Academy of Hope CharterConwayC+61
45Spring Hill HighChapinC+60
46Meadow Glen ElementaryLexingtonC+60
47Fort Mill ElementaryFort MillC+60
48Rawlinson Road MiddleRock HillC+60
49Seaside ElementaryGarden CityC+60
50Townville ElementaryTownvilleC+60

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best public schools in South Carolina?

The highest-ranked school in South Carolina is Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science in Winnsboro with a quality score of 75/100 (grade B+). Rankings are based on student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, gifted programs, and attendance rates from NCES data.

How are school quality scores calculated?

Quality scores (0-100) are computed from NCES data across 4 metrics: student-teacher ratio (lower is better, national avg ~16:1), counselor availability (ASCA recommends 250:1), gifted program availability, and chronic absenteeism rate (lower is better). This measures school resources, not test scores.

Methodology

Quality scores (0-100) are computed from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 metrics: student-teacher ratio, school counselor availability, gifted program access, and chronic absenteeism rates. Schools must have at least 50 students and data for one or more metrics. This measures resource quality, not test scores. Higher scores indicate smaller class sizes, better counselor access, and lower absenteeism.