Summary:
Great Falls, South Carolina, is served by two public schools within the Chester 01 school district, which holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 28th percentile statewide.
Great Falls High (grades 6-12, 375 students) stands out for its exceptional graduation rate of 96.2% and a 0.0% dropout rate—both far better than district and state averages. The school also shines in specific End-of-Course exams, with 83.07% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 86.8% in English 2 during 2024-2025. However, performance is uneven: English 1 (37.73%) and U.S. History (38.64%) proficiency lag well below state averages. The school spends $19,665 per student and maintains a favorable 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio. In contrast, Great Falls Elementary (PK-5, 335 students) has seen its state ranking decline from the 54th percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 33rd percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Its spending is notably lower at $14,957 per student, with a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio.
Key metrics reveal a significant spending disparity of over $4,700 per student between the two schools. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, affecting 23.3% of high school students and 20.8% of elementary students—both above the state average. The elementary school shows a troubling downward trend in math proficiency, falling from 48.2% in 3rd grade to 25.5% in 5th grade, while 4th-grade science (55%) is a bright spot. The high school presents a paradox: students stay and graduate, but academic mastery varies sharply by subject. The 2025-2026 data shows U.S. History proficiency jumping to 59.02% while English 1 remains low at 32.76%. For parents, this means the high school excels at keeping students on track to graduate but struggles with consistency in core academic areas, while the elementary school faces growing challenges in mathematics that could impact future success.
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