High Schools in Abbeville 60

The Abbeville 60 school district in rural South Carolina is home to two public high schools—Dixie High (serving grades 7-12) and Abbeville High (serving grades 9-12)—that together offer a starkly contrasting picture of academic performance despite sharing a district that ranks in the top 25% statewide.

For parents, the standout choice is clearly Dixie High, which ranks 32nd out of 245 high schools in South Carolina (87th percentile) and outperforms both the district and state averages in nearly every subject. Its proficiency rates are exceptional—93.75% in English 2 and 94.74% in Algebra 1—and it also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 15.6%, well below the state average of 22.3%. In contrast, Abbeville High ranks 146th (40th percentile) and struggles significantly in English 1 (47.82% proficiency) and U.S. History (47.37%), both far below state averages. While both schools excel in Algebra 1 (over 94% proficiency), this strength does not carry over to other subjects at Abbeville High, suggesting a possible over-focus on math instruction there.

Interestingly, Abbeville High actually spends more per student ($15,886 vs. $13,587) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (14.9 vs. 15.6) than Dixie High, yet its academic outcomes are significantly lower—pointing to challenges beyond resources, particularly its high chronic absenteeism rate of 23.3%. However, there is a silver lining: Abbeville High has a higher graduation rate (95.3%) and lower dropout rate (1.5%) than Dixie High, showing it effectively keeps students on track to graduate even if test scores lag. For families prioritizing rigorous academics, Dixie High is the clear leader, while Abbeville High offers a supportive path to graduation despite its academic hurdles.