Best Public Schools in Florence, SC

The city of Florence, South Carolina is home to 21 schools, including 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative school. These schools are primarily served by the Florence 01 district, with one school, Virtus Academy of South Carolina, belonging to the Charter Institute at Erskine.

Among the standout schools in the area are Royall Elementary, which consistently ranks among the top in the state with a 5-star rating and over 80% of students proficient in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Other high-performing schools include Carver Elementary and Briggs Elementary, both with 4-star ratings and strong academic performance. At the middle school level, John W. Moore Middle stands out as the highest-ranked in the Florence 01 district with a 4-star rating.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities in academic performance across the district, with some schools struggling to reach 50% proficiency in core subjects. Additionally, the district faces challenges with high poverty levels, as indicated by the large percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, and a consistently high chronic absenteeism rate of 22.5% across all schools. These factors likely contribute to the performance gaps observed between the highest and lowest-performing schools in the area.