Summary:
The McCormick 01 school district is a small, rural district in South Carolina serving 523 students across three schools: McCormick Elementary (PK-5), McCormick Middle (6-8), and McCormick High (9-12). The district holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 40th percentile statewide, with notably high per-pupil spending and very low student-to-teacher ratios of about 10:1.
Among the three schools, McCormick High is the standout performer, having made a dramatic turnaround from the 9th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 51st percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 3-star rating—the highest in the district. Its EOCEP scores in Algebra 1 and English 1 now exceed state averages, and its graduation rate of 88.9% is slightly above the state figure. McCormick Middle is also improving, jumping from the 19th to the 48th percentile, with 7th and 8th-grade ELA proficiency now above state averages. McCormick Elementary performs near the state average in several ELA grades but struggles more in math.
The most pressing concern across the district is mathematics, where proficiency rates lag 15-25 percentage points behind the state in every grade level at the elementary and middle schools—a stark contrast to ELA, which is a relative strength. Chronic absenteeism is also a district-wide issue, with all three schools exceeding the state average of 22.3%, led by McCormick Middle at 25.6%. Despite spending between $27,000 and $31,000 per student—well above state norms—the district's overall outcomes remain mixed, suggesting that funding alone isn't solving foundational challenges. The high school's recent gains are encouraging, but the persistent math gaps in lower grades could threaten future progress as those students advance.
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