High Schools in Jasper 01

The Jasper 01 district in South Carolina is served by two high schools—Ridgeland Secondary Academy of Excellence and Hardeeville Junior/Senior High—both covering grades 6-12 and together enrolling about 1,435 students in a district that ranks in the bottom 4% of the state.

For parents, the most striking takeaway is the wide gap between the two schools despite their shared district. Hardeeville Junior/Senior High is the clear academic leader, with an 88.8% graduation rate that beats the state average (86.7%) and far exceeds Ridgeland Secondary Academy of Excellence's 67.0%. Hardeeville also posts a tiny 0.5% dropout rate, strong middle school ELA scores (45.7% in 7th grade), and 75% proficiency in Algebra 1. Meanwhile, Ridgeland shines only in English 2, where 85.11% of students are proficient—nearly matching the state—but lags badly in graduation and most other subjects. Notably, Ridgeland has a lower student-teacher ratio (12.9 vs. 16.3) and higher per-pupil spending, yet still underperforms, suggesting resources alone aren't the answer.

Both schools share serious challenges. Math proficiency is alarmingly low—7th grade math sits at just 11.7% (Ridgeland) and 10.8% (Hardeeville), about one-third of the state average. Chronic absenteeism is a hidden crisis, affecting 29.6% of Ridgeland students and 36.2% at Hardeeville, both well above the state's 22.3%. U.S. History is another weak spot, with proficiency around 40% versus 61.5% statewide. Hardeeville's state ranking has also slipped from the 48th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 22nd in 2025-2026, despite its strong graduation metrics. For parents, this means choosing between Hardeeville's better overall outcomes and Ridgeland's smaller classes and English 2 strength—but both schools need district-wide help in math and attendance.