Summary:
There is just one public high school serving the city of Dillon, South Carolina: Dillon High, which enrolls 804 students in grades 9-12 and is part of the Dillon 04 district.
For parents considering Dillon High, the most pressing concern is a clear downward trend. The school has fallen from 210th to 230th in the state rankings over three years, and its star rating dropped from one star to zero. The graduation rate (84.5%) is close to the state average (86.7%), but the dropout rate of 5.6% is more than double the state's 2.1%. Chronic absenteeism is also a major red flag—36.2% of students miss significant school time, compared to 22.3% statewide. Academically, proficiency is roughly half the state average in English 1 (32% vs. 62%) and U.S. History (32% vs. 61%), though English 2 proficiency (79%) is much closer to the state mark (86%). The school spends $12,443 per student, slightly above average, yet results lag considerably.
There are a few bright spots. U.S. History proficiency improved from 32% to 37% in one year, showing that targeted efforts can work. English 2 performance suggests that students who stay engaged can achieve near-state-level results. However, the gap between English 1 and English 2 is striking—likely reflecting that many struggling students drop out or disengage before reaching the higher-level course. The Dillon 04 district itself ranks in the bottom 8% of South Carolina districts, so the challenges are systemic. For parents, the key takeaway is that Dillon High offers some solid instruction in specific subjects, but the school faces serious hurdles with attendance, retention, and foundational skills that will require strong family involvement and possibly outside support to overcome.
Thank you for your feedback!