High Schools in Clarendon 06

The Clarendon 06 school district in rural South Carolina serves approximately 1,660 high school students across three schools: Manning High, East Clarendon Middle-High, and Scott's Branch High, with East Clarendon also serving middle grades 6-8.

East Clarendon Middle-High is the clear standout, ranking 65th in the state (73rd percentile) with a 4-star rating—a remarkable jump of 65 positions in just two years. It leads the district with a 94.8% graduation rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism at 20.4%, and exceeds state averages in Algebra 1, English 1, and English 2. By contrast, Scott's Branch High struggles despite spending $23,899 per student—nearly double the other schools—and having the best student-teacher ratio at 12.1:1. It ranks 208th (15th percentile) with a 37% chronic absenteeism rate and the lowest test scores, particularly in U.S. History where only 30.4% are proficient versus the 62.6% state average. Manning High sits in the middle, ranking 222nd (9th percentile) with a 90.4% graduation rate and the district's lowest dropout rate at 1.3%, though its test scores consistently fall below state averages.

The most striking finding is the spending paradox: Scott's Branch spends 82% more per student than East Clarendon yet produces the worst outcomes, suggesting that engagement and attendance matter more than funding alone. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with Scott's Branch at 37% and Manning at 27.4%, both well above the 22.3% state average. Another notable pattern is the dramatic gap between English 1 and English 2 proficiency—Manning jumps from 32.3% to 73.3%, and Scott's Branch from 36.1% to 73.8%—likely reflecting different student cohorts. U.S. History is the weakest subject district-wide, with even East Clarendon falling 12 points below the state average. For parents, East Clarendon clearly offers the strongest academics and momentum, while Scott's Branch's high spending and small classes haven't translated into results, and Manning High shows concerning year-over-year volatility in subjects like Algebra 1.