Best Public Schools in South Carolina

Top 50 schools ranked by resource quality score. Based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs & attendance. NCES CCD 2022-23.

82/100
Top Score
Hampton Elementary
65/100
Avg Score (Top 50)
50
Schools Ranked
SC
State
# School Score Grade
1. Hampton Elementary Hampton 82 A-
2. Jane Edwards Elementary Edisto Island 74 B
3. Varnville Elementary Varnville 73 B
4. Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science Winnsboro 73 B
5. Fennell Elementary Yemassee 72 B
6. Lady'S Island Elementary Beaufort 71 B
7. Orchard Park Elementary Fort Mill 70 B
8. Mccrorey-Liston School of Technology Blair 70 B
9. Gadsden Elementary Gadsden 69 B-
10. Lakes and Bridges Charter School Easley 68 B-
11. Brunson Elementary Brunson 67 B-
12. West Lee Elementary Rembert 66 B-
13. Banks Trail Middle Fort Mill 65 B-
14. Fort Mill Middle Fort Mill 65 B-
15. Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success Charter Myrtle Beach 65 B-
16. A. C. Moore Elementary Columbia 65 B-
17. Ben Hazel Primary Hampton 65 B-
18. Turbeville High Turbeville 65 B-
19. Sterling School Greenville 64 C+
20. South Conway Elementary Conway 64 C+
21. Carolina Voyager Charter Charleston 64 C+
22. Brockman Elementary Columbia 64 C+
23. Youth Leadership Academy Pickens 64 C+
24. Whitmire Community School (Elementary) Whitmire 64 C+
25. Forest Creek Middle Fort Mill 63 C+
26. Greenville Technical Charter High School Greenville 63 C+
27. Diamond Hill Elementary Abbeville 63 C+
28. Carolina Elementary Hartsville 63 C+
29. Charleston Development Academy Charleston 63 C+
30. Sc Governor'S School for Agriculture at John De La Howe McCormick 63 C+
31. Plantersville Elementary Georgetown 63 C+
32. Lakewood Elementary Myrtle Beach 62 C+
33. Riverview Elementary Fort Mill 62 C+
34. Springfield Middle Fort Mill 62 C+
35. Lowcountry Leadership Charter School Meggett 62 C+
36. Riverside Middle Pendleton 62 C+
37. Belton Preparatory Academy Belton 62 C+
38. Gold Hill Middle Tega Cay 61 C+
39. T.E. Mabry Middle Inman 61 C+
40. East Cooper Montessori Charter Mt. Pleasant 61 C+
41. Military Magnet Academy North Charleston 61 C+
42. Tall Pines Stem Academy Aiken 61 C+
43. Meeting Street Academy-Spartanburg Spartanburg 61 C+
44. Tigerville Elementary Taylors 61 C+
45. Kelly Miller Elementary Winnsboro 61 C+
46. Wright Elementary Belton 61 C+
47. Child Development Center at Woods Road Florence 61 C+
48. St. James Santee Elementary-Middle McClellanville 61 C+
49. John C. Calhoun Elementary Calhoun Falls 61 C+
50. Berkeley County Middle College High Moncks Corner 61 C+

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best public schools in South Carolina? ▼

The top-rated school in South Carolina is Hampton Elementary in Hampton with a quality score of 82/100 (grade A-). 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.

Explore More for South Carolina

All Schools → Largest Schools → Absenteeism Data → Highest Spending → National Ranking →

Methodology

Quality scores (0-100) are computed from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 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.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.