High Schools in Greenwood 50

The Greenwood 50 school district in South Carolina is home to two public high schools serving grades 9-12: Greenwood High (1,724 students) and Emerald High (887 students), with the district earning a 4-star rating and ranking 16th out of 75 districts statewide.

For parents comparing the two schools, Emerald High is the clear standout on academic momentum. It jumped an impressive 55 spots in state ranking from the 24th percentile to the 49th percentile in a single year, now earning a 3-star rating. Emerald outperforms Greenwood High in all three EOCEP subjects, including English 1 (59.6% vs. 52.35% proficient), U.S. History (53.43% vs. 46.55%), and English 2 (84% vs. 78.31%). Emerald also boasts an exceptionally low dropout rate of just 0.5%—four times lower than the state average—and maintains a slightly better student-teacher ratio (16.6:1 vs. 17.8:1). However, this comes with higher per-student spending ($16,305 vs. $13,232). Greenwood High, while larger and more cost-efficient, has a higher graduation rate (85.6% vs. 81.7%) and sits closer to the state average, but its state ranking has remained stagnant around the 31st percentile with a 2-star rating.

Both schools share notable challenges and bright spots. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with both schools hovering around 23%—slightly above the state average of 22.3%—which likely contributes to below-average scores in U.S. History and Algebra 1. On the positive side, both schools perform strongly in English 2, with Emerald actually exceeding the state average. The data suggests Emerald High's smaller size may enable more personalized attention and faster implementation of reforms, while Greenwood High offers greater scale and efficiency. Parents should weigh Emerald's rising academic trajectory against Greenwood's stronger graduation outcomes and lower per-student cost.