Summary:
The city of Lyman, South Carolina, is served by two public schools within the highly-rated Spartanburg 05 district (ranked 12th in the state): Lyman Elementary (grades PK-5, 750 students) and D. R. Hill Middle (grades 6-8, 562 students). Both schools hold a 3-star rating and rank in the 67th percentile statewide, but they offer distinctly different strengths.
Lyman Elementary is the standout for academic consistency, particularly in math. Its proficiency rates (62.7% to 67.2%) far exceed both district and state averages across all grade levels, and its state ranking has improved steadily over three years. In contrast, D. R. Hill Middle shines in advanced coursework, achieving a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra 1 EOCEP—well above the district (75.25%) and state (73.95%). However, the middle school’s general math proficiency is a relative weakness, with 6th-grade math at just 38.5% proficient, a sharp drop from the 65.8% seen in 5th grade at the elementary school. This suggests a "transition dip" that parents should be aware of when their child moves up.
Chronic absenteeism is a key differentiator. D. R. Hill Middle has a concerning 26.3% chronic absenteeism rate, well above the district (19.1%) and state (22.3%), while Lyman Elementary is better than both at 18.4%. This likely correlates with the middle school’s lower overall proficiency. On the positive side, D. R. Hill Middle offers a more favorable student-teacher ratio (11.1:1 vs. 13.2:1) and higher per-student spending ($14,394 vs. $12,267). For parents, this means the elementary school provides a strong math foundation, while the middle school excels at accelerating top students—but also faces attendance challenges that may impact broader achievement.
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