Summary:
Clinton, South Carolina is home to a single public high school, Clinton High, which serves grades 9-12 and enrolls 811 students as part of the Laurens 56 school district.
For parents considering Clinton High, the school presents a mixed but informative picture. The most encouraging sign is its low dropout rate of just 1.0%, which is less than half the state average of 2.1%, indicating that students generally stay enrolled through graduation. Academically, the school shows a notable strength in English 2, where proficiency reached 91.3% in 2024-2025—exceeding the state average of 86.4%—and remained close to the state mark the following year. However, this success is not consistent across subjects. English 1 proficiency lags significantly at around 51-52% versus the state's 61%, and U.S. History is a persistent challenge, with only 53.5% of students proficient in 2025-2026 compared to 62.6% statewide. Algebra 1 also trails the state by nearly 7 percentage points. The school's overall state ranking has slipped from the 53rd percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 39th-42nd percentile (2 stars) in recent years, even as some absolute scores improved—suggesting peer schools are advancing faster.
One area of concern is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 26.3%, notably higher than the district's 20.4% and the state's 22.3%. This is particularly striking given the low dropout rate, implying students remain enrolled but miss substantial instructional time. On the resource side, Clinton High is well-funded, spending $16,352 per student with a favorable 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Yet these investments have not fully translated into top-tier outcomes across all subjects. The graduation rate of 82.7% also trails the state's 86.7%. In short, families will find a school that keeps kids in school and excels in English 2, but should be aware of the gaps in history, math, and attendance that may require additional support at home.
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