Summary:
Loris, South Carolina is served by a single middle school, Loris Middle, which educates students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the highly-rated Horry 01 school district.
For parents considering Loris Middle, the most encouraging news is the school's strong upward trajectory. Between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, the school posted significant gains in nearly every subject and grade level, with 7th-grade ELA improving by nearly 13 percentage points and 6th-grade science improving by nearly 11 points. While the school's overall state ranking remains in the bottom third (239th out of 335 schools), this consistent improvement suggests recent instructional changes are taking hold. The school also boasts a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra 1 end-of-course exam, far exceeding both the district and state averages, indicating a strong advanced math program for high-achieving students.
However, significant challenges remain. Mathematics proficiency is a critical weakness, with only about 23-29% of students meeting state standards across grades 6-8, creating a gap of roughly 18 points compared to the state average. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern, affecting nearly one in four students (24.7%), which is higher than both the district and state averages. Despite spending a substantial $15,598 per student, academic outcomes still lag behind state averages, raising questions about resource allocation. This disconnect is particularly notable given that the Horry 01 district ranks in the 88th percentile statewide, suggesting Loris Middle may serve a more challenging student population than other schools in the district. The positive trend across all subjects is a hopeful sign, and if sustained, the school could see its ranking climb substantially in the coming years.
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