High Schools in Darlington 01

The Darlington 01 school district in South Carolina serves 2,671 high school students across four schools—Hartsville High, Darlington High, Mayo High For Math Science & Technology, and Lamar High—with school sizes ranging from 309 to 1,129 students.

The standout is Mayo High For Math Science & Technology, a specialized magnet school ranked 3rd in the state (99th percentile) with a 100% graduation rate, 0% dropout rate, and near-perfect test scores—96.6% proficiency in English 1 and 97.5% in U.S. History. It achieves this while spending the least per student ($16,889) and has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.8%. By contrast, the three comprehensive high schools rank in the bottom 16% of the state. Hartsville High (207th), Darlington High (226th), and Lamar High (228th) all struggle with proficiency rates 20-30 points below state averages. For example, English 1 proficiency ranges from 27.6% at Lamar to 36.7% at Hartsville, compared to the state's 60.9%.

There are notable bright spots beyond Mayo. Lamar High, despite its low academic ranking, has the district's best retention metrics: an 88.7% graduation rate (above the state's 86.7%) and a 1.1% dropout rate, even though it receives the highest per-student funding ($24,681). All three comprehensive schools face a chronic absenteeism crisis, with rates between 22.2% and 24.5%, and their rankings have declined over the past three years—Hartsville dropped 62 positions, Lamar 47, and Darlington 20. Meanwhile, Mayo has stayed in the top 5. This creates a two-tier district: one elite magnet school and three struggling comprehensive schools. For parents, the choice is stark—Mayo offers exceptional academics and engagement, while the other schools offer more typical comprehensive experiences but with significant challenges around attendance and proficiency that families should carefully consider.