Summary:
The Georgetown 01 school district in South Carolina serves four high schools—Georgetown High, Waccamaw High, Andrews High, and Carvers Bay Early College and Career High—with a combined enrollment of about 2,600 students across grades 9-12. The district ranks in the bottom third of the state, but that average hides a dramatic split between one standout school and several that struggle.
Waccamaw High is the clear leader, ranking 26th in the state (89th percentile) and improving every year. It posts the district's best graduation rate (94.5%), lowest chronic absenteeism (13.7%), and highest test scores in every subject—for example, 75.1% proficiency in English 1 versus the district average of 51.8%. It also does this while spending the least per student ($13,730) and having the largest class sizes. At the other extreme, Andrews High ranks 233rd (5th percentile) with a 0-star rating, a 31.2% chronic absenteeism rate, and just 26.6% proficiency in English 1—despite spending 30% more per student than Waccamaw. Carvers Bay Early College and Career High sits near the bottom in rankings but has the district's lowest dropout rate (0.3%), suggesting its career-focused model keeps students enrolled even if test scores lag. Georgetown High falls in the middle, ranking 126th with a 2-star rating, though its year-to-year rankings swing widely.
For parents, the key takeaway is that school choice within this district matters enormously. Waccamaw offers a consistently excellent, efficient education, while Andrews and Carvers Bay show that higher spending and smaller classes don't automatically translate to better outcomes—attendance and school culture appear to be stronger drivers. The district-wide gap is stark: an 84-percentile-point spread between its best and worst schools. If your child is academically motivated, Waccamaw is the clear pick; if you're considering Andrews or Carvers Bay, be prepared to supplement learning at home and address attendance challenges. The district's overall 2-star rating masks these wide disparities, so look closely at individual school data rather than the district average.
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