Best Public Schools in Hopkins, SC

Hopkins, South Carolina is served by five public schools within the Richland 01 school district, which ranks in the bottom third of the state, and includes two elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school serving approximately 2,987 students.

There is a stark contrast between the schools in this area. Hopkins Elementary is the clear standout, consistently earning 3-star ratings and outperforming both district and state averages in nearly every subject. For example, 75% of its 3rd graders are proficient in ELA compared to just 42.1% at Horrell Hill Elementary. This success comes despite—or perhaps because of—the highest per-student spending in the area at $27,792 and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 20.3%. In contrast, Lower Richland High is struggling significantly, with its ranking dropping to the 8th percentile (0 stars) and a graduation rate of just 81.6%, well below the state average. The middle schools, Hopkins Middle and Southeast Middle, also face serious challenges, particularly in mathematics, where proficiency rates are roughly half of state averages.

For parents, the most important takeaways are the significant disparities between schools and the clear warning signs at the secondary level. Chronic absenteeism is a major issue, affecting over 32% of students at both Hopkins Middle and Lower Richland High, which correlates strongly with lower performance. While Hopkins Elementary proves that high achievement is possible within this district, the middle schools show a concerning math crisis, and the high school has a dropout rate nearly double the state average. Interestingly, both middle schools show near-perfect proficiency on Algebra 1 exams, suggesting that only advanced students are taking the course. The district's resource allocation appears uneven, with the struggling high school spending the least per student ($17,494), while the successful elementary school spends the most.