Blackville-Hilda High

Blackville-Hilda High serves about 140 students in grades 9-12 in the small rural community of Blackville, SC, as part of the Barnwell school district. The school holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 29th percentile statewide, but it stands out for its exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.7:1—the lowest in the area—which means your child is likely to get a great deal of individual attention from teachers.

One of the school's biggest strengths is English instruction. On the English 2 exam, about 76% of students scored proficient, which is very close to the state average and well above the district average. Even more impressive is the growth from English 1 to English 2—proficiency jumps from roughly 58% to 76%, showing that students make significant progress during their high school years. This is a much stronger performance than at nearby Barnwell High, where only about 43% of students pass English 1. The school also does exceptional work with students from low-income backgrounds and African American students, earning 3-star ratings for both groups—a sign that these students are thriving here compared to many other schools across the state.

The main area for improvement is U.S. History, where only about 44% of students demonstrate proficiency—well below the state average of 63%. This is also the one subject where Barnwell High outperforms Blackville-Hilda. Still, within the Barnwell district, Blackville-Hilda beats Williston-Elko High in every tested subject. While the school doesn't report data for math or graduation rates, the strong English results and personalized learning environment make it a solid choice for families prioritizing literacy and close student-teacher relationships.