Best High Schools in Lexington, SC

Lexington, South Carolina is served by three public high schools—Lexington High, River Bluff High, and White Knoll High—all part of the Lexington 01 district, which ranks in the 81st percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. These schools serve grades 9-12 with similar student-to-teacher ratios and per-student spending, yet they deliver vastly different outcomes.

For parents, the standout choice is Lexington High, the district's academic leader with a 92.7% graduation rate, a 0.4% dropout rate, and top-tier English proficiency (91.51% in English 2). It ranks 28th statewide (89th percentile) and achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending ($12,807). River Bluff High is a close second, boasting the highest graduation rate (94.1%) and the best single-subject score (94.35% in English 2), though its state ranking slipped slightly to 34th. In contrast, White Knoll High lags significantly: an 81.5% graduation rate, a 2-star rating, and a 38.5% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly double the state average. Its Algebra 1 proficiency (29.17%) and English 1 proficiency (56.17%) trail far behind its peers.

Key takeaways include a district-wide Algebra crisis: all three schools fell dramatically below the state average (64.58%) in Algebra 1, with Lexington High dropping from 76.94% to 38.71% in one year. Meanwhile, English performance is exceptional across the district, with River Bluff High exceeding state averages by over 10 points. Chronic absenteeism is a hidden crisis affecting all three schools, correlating strongly with lower achievement at White Knoll High. Notably, Lexington High achieves the best outcomes with the least funding, while White Knoll High spends more yet sees far worse results—a disparity that suggests resource allocation alone doesn't explain performance differences.