| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | York School District 4 | York | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Anderson School District 1 | Anderson | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #3 | York School District 2 | York | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Anderson School District 4 | Anderson | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #5 | Abbeville County School District | Abbeville | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #6 | Lexington School District 5 | Lexington | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #7 | Spartanburg School District 4 | Spartanburg | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #8 | Dorchester School District 2 | North Charleston | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #9 | Anderson School District 3 | Anderson | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #10 | Horry County School District | Horry | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #11 | Greenville County School District | Greenville | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #12 | Greenville County Schools | Greenville | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #13 | Spartanburg School District 2 | Spartanburg | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #14 | Lexington School District 1 | Lexington | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #15 | Lexington School District 3 | Lexington | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #16 | Spartanburg School District 5 | Spartanburg | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #17 | Pickens County School District | Pickens | 8/10 Good | 76th |
| #18 | Charleston County School District | Charleston | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #19 | Richland School District 2 | Richland | 8/10 Good | 73th |
| #20 | Oconee County School District | Oconee | 8/10 Good | 71th |
| #21 | Spartanburg School District 1 | Spartanburg | 8/10 Good | — |
| #22 | Anderson School District 5 | Anderson | 7/10 Good | 68th |
| #23 | Greenwood School District 52 | Greenwood | 7/10 Good | 68th |
| #24 | Anderson School District 2 | Anderson | 7/10 Good | 65th |
| #25 | Berkeley County School District | Berkeley | 7/10 Good | 63th |
Best School Districts in South Carolina (2026)
This ranking covers 65 rated public school districts in South Carolina, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.