High Schools in Chesterfield 01

The four high schools in the Chesterfield 01 district—Central High, Cheraw High, McBee High, and Chesterfield High—serve grades 9-12 (with McBee also covering grades 6-8) in a rural South Carolina area, enrolling about 2,322 students total, and the district ranks in the bottom quarter of the state.

If you’re looking for the strongest academics, Chesterfield High stands out clearly. Despite being the smallest school, it earns the district’s only 3-star rating and ranks 107th in the state, far ahead of its peers. It also posts the best English 1 and U.S. History proficiency rates, plus the lowest chronic absenteeism (17.6%). However, it has a puzzling weakness: the highest dropout rate in the district at 4.1%, nearly double the state average. Meanwhile, McBee High is the most improved, jumping from 1 to 2 stars, and leads the district with an 88.7% graduation rate and a tiny 0.6% dropout rate—all while spending less per student than Cheraw. Cheraw High is the most volatile, falling 70 spots in state rankings in one year, with English 1 proficiency dropping sharply. Central High struggles most overall, with the lowest graduation rate (77.3%), highest chronic absenteeism (31.4%), and worst student-teacher ratio (16:1).

Key takeaways for parents: spending doesn’t predict success—Central gets the least funding and performs worst, while Cheraw gets the most yet declined. Attendance is a strong signal, as schools with lower absenteeism tend to score higher. Math is a district-wide challenge, especially Algebra 1 at Central (37.9% proficiency vs. 73.95% statewide). On the positive side, all schools show solid English 2 results, and McBee’s middle schoolers excel in ELA. If you value stability and academics, Chesterfield High is your best bet; if you want the highest graduation odds, McBee leads the pack.