High Schools in Florence 01

The Florence 01 school district in Florence, South Carolina, is home to three public high schools—West Florence High, South Florence High, and Wilson High—serving grades 9 through 12 and enrolling roughly 4,780 students combined.

For parents comparing schools, West Florence High is the academic leader, ranking 88th in the state (64th percentile) with the strongest English 1 (63.67%) and U.S. History (66.95%) proficiency rates. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism of the three (28.5%) and the lowest per-student spending ($11,418), yet it maintains a 90.3% graduation rate. South Florence High is the most improved, jumping 19 spots in state rankings to 105th, and it leads the district in Algebra 1 proficiency (79.16%) and graduation rate (93.1%). Wilson High is the consistent performer, ranking 115th with steady gains each year, and it matches South Florence’s graduation rate (93.2%) while spending the most per student ($13,475) and having the smallest class sizes (14.9:1).

Across the district, all three schools beat the state average in graduation rates (92.0% vs. 86.7%) and keep dropout rates below 1%, far better than the 2.1% state average. They also excel in Algebra 1, with proficiency rates 12–15 points above the state. However, chronic absenteeism is a major concern—every school exceeds the state average of 22.3%, with Wilson High at a troubling 36.5%. English 1 is the weakest subject, especially at Wilson (47.77%), though English 2 scores are strong (81–84%), suggesting students recover by 10th grade. Notably, Wilson High posted a massive 18-point improvement in Algebra 1 from the prior year, indicating a successful intervention. While West Florence spends the least yet ranks highest, the district’s overall picture is one of strong outcomes despite absenteeism challenges.