Summary:
The city of Gilbert, South Carolina, is served by four public schools within the Lexington 01 school district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 81st percentile statewide. The district includes two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, serving a total of roughly 3,577 students.
Gilbert High is the clear academic standout, showing a dramatic rise in state rankings from 97th to 48th over two years. Its English scores are exceptional, with 90.2% proficiency in English 1—far exceeding both district and state averages—and it boasts a 91.8% graduation rate. However, the high school also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at 26.1%. At the other end of the spectrum, Centerville Elementary outperforms Gilbert Elementary in nearly every subject and grade level, despite spending about $1,400 less per student. For example, in 5th grade math, Centerville achieved 50% proficiency versus Gilbert Elementary's 26%. Gilbert Middle shows a significant gap between its ELA scores (55-61% proficient) and math scores (36-48% proficient), though its Algebra 1 students achieved a perfect 100% pass rate.
Mathematics is a consistent weakness across all schools, with elementary and middle school math proficiency lagging well behind ELA. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with all four schools at or above the state average of 22.3%. Interestingly, the school spending the most per student (Gilbert Elementary at $16,409) performs the weakest academically, while the lowest-spending school (Centerville Elementary at $14,944) performs better, suggesting factors beyond funding drive success. For parents, this district offers a strong high school experience, particularly in English, but families should be aware of the math challenges in lower grades and the need for attendance support across all campuses.
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