Summary:
The Florence 01 school district, along with the Charter Institute at Erskine, serves roughly 14,000 students across 19 schools in Florence, South Carolina, including 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative school.
For parents, the standout elementary school is Royall Elementary, which leads the district with an 89th percentile ranking and exceptional test scores—89% of 3rd graders are proficient in ELA, compared to a 64% state average. Carver Elementary and Lucy T. Davis Elementary also perform well, ranking in the 74th and 72nd percentiles respectively. At the other end, Wallace Gregg Elementary struggles significantly, with a 22nd percentile ranking, only 18.5% math proficiency in 5th grade, and a 42% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly double the state average. Among high schools, West Florence High leads with a 64th percentile ranking, strong Algebra 1 scores (78% vs. 64.6% state), and a 90.3% graduation rate, though Wilson High and South Florence High both boast even higher graduation rates above 93%.
A key concern is the "middle school slide"—all four middle schools, including John W. Moore Middle (the best at 59th percentile), show math proficiency below state averages in most grades. Chronic absenteeism is a strong predictor of performance: schools with rates below 20% (like Royall at 15.1%) tend to rank above the 60th percentile, while those above 30% (like Wilson High at 36.5%) struggle. Interestingly, spending doesn't guarantee success—North Vista Elementary spends the most per student ($21,826) yet ranks in the 39th percentile, while Royall spends less ($15,720) and achieves far better results. Overall, the district excels in graduation rates (92% vs. 86.7% state) and Algebra 1 proficiency, but addressing absenteeism and middle school math could yield the biggest improvements.
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