Best Middle Schools in Conway, SC

Conway, South Carolina is served by three public middle schools—Whittemore Park Middle, Black Water Middle, and Conway Middle—all part of the Horry 01 district, which ranks in the 88th percentile statewide and holds a 4-star rating. These schools serve grades 6-8 with a combined enrollment of 2,380 students, and while they share the same district, they show distinct strengths and challenges that parents should consider.

Conway Middle stands out as the strongest overall performer, ranking in the 65th percentile statewide and maintaining consistent scores over three years. It leads in most ELA and math categories, has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (20.4%), and achieves these results with the smallest enrollment (578 students) and best student-teacher ratio (14:1). Black Water Middle is the standout for advanced math, achieving a perfect 100% proficiency on the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam, but it also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (25.5%) and a slightly larger student-teacher ratio (15.4:1). Whittemore Park Middle shows the most dramatic improvement, jumping from a 2-star to a 3-star rating in one year, with 8th-grade ELA proficiency rising nearly 12 points to 62.6%, though its 7th-grade math proficiency remains a concern at just 30.4%.

The most pressing issue across all three schools is a significant math proficiency gap—average math scores hover around 37.8% compared to 60% for ELA, with even the best math results falling below state averages. Chronic absenteeism is also a hidden challenge, with all three schools exceeding the state rate of 22.3% except Conway Middle. Interestingly, per-student spending shows no clear relationship to outcomes: Whittemore Park spends the most ($13,712) but ranks lowest overall, while Conway Middle spends slightly less and achieves the best results. For parents, Conway Middle offers the most balanced and consistent experience, Black Water excels for advanced math students, and Whittemore Park is improving rapidly but still needs work in math.