High Schools in Anderson 01

The Anderson 01 district in South Carolina is home to three high schools—Wren High, Palmetto High, and Powdersville High—all serving grades 9-12 with enrollments between roughly 1,000 and 1,250 students. This is a top-tier district, ranked 3rd out of 75 in the state with a 5-star rating, and every school here significantly outperforms state averages across all subjects and graduation metrics.

If you're looking for the strongest overall academics, Wren High is the clear leader. It holds the district's highest state ranking (15th in 2025-2026) and has improved dramatically over three years. Wren posts the best test scores in Algebra 1 (95.8% proficient), English 1 (81.5%), and English 2 (97.3%), along with a 96.6% graduation rate and a tiny 0.3% dropout rate. However, Powdersville High is the standout for student engagement and persistence. Despite a slightly lower state ranking, it achieves the highest graduation rate in the district at 97.8% and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 17.6%—well below the state average of 22.3%. Palmetto High is a solid, consistent option, showing steady ranking improvement and strong U.S. History proficiency (82.2%), though it trails its peers slightly in graduation rate (92.6%) and has the highest chronic absenteeism (31.2%).

One notable paradox is that Wren High and Palmetto High have chronic absenteeism rates above the state average, yet still achieve exceptional academic results—suggesting strong instructional quality. Across the district, math is a massive strength, with Algebra 1 proficiency exceeding 92% at every school compared to a 64.6% state average. English 2 scores are also remarkably high (86-97%), showing strong literacy growth by junior year. With nearly identical per-student spending (around $11,000-$11,500) and similar class sizes, all three schools deliver outstanding value, making Anderson 01 an excellent choice for families seeking high achievement and strong graduation outcomes.