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Barnwell High

Q: Is Barnwell High a good school?

Barnwell High ranks 184 th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

184^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 248 South Carolina High Schools

Better than 26% of South Carolina high schools

Summary

Barnwell High serves approximately 557 students in grades 9-12 in the rural town of Barnwell, South Carolina, and is the largest high school in the Barnwell district—nearly three times the size of its district counterparts. The school has shown modest improvement over the past decade, moving from the 25th percentile statewide in 2014-2015 to the 25th percentile again in 2025-2026, though it hit a low point at the 12th percentile in 2020-2021 before recovering. All students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a high-poverty student body, and per-student spending has risen dramatically from $8,527 in 2020-2021 to $15,013 in 2023-2024.

The school's most striking strength is its work with Gifted and Talented students, where it ranked 22nd out of 157 schools statewide (86th percentile) with a 4-star rating in 2023-2024—far exceeding its overall performance. In recent testing, Barnwell High posted a 58.52% proficiency rate in U.S. History and the Constitution, beating the district average (49.78%) and approaching the state average (62.57%), while English 2 proficiency reached 72.44%, also above the district average. However, mathematics remains a critical weakness: only 40.27% of students were proficient in Algebra 1 in 2023-2024, compared to the state average of 72.5%—a 32-point gap. This is especially notable when compared to nearby Denmark-Olar High (87.5% proficiency) and Bamberg-Ehrhardt High (86.07%), both of which achieve more than double Barnwell's rate in Algebra 1 despite serving similar demographics.

Chronic absenteeism is a persistent concern, with a 28.5% rate in 2023-2024—well above the district (20.6%) and state (22.5%) averages—and the dropout rate has risen sharply from 1.0% in 2020-2021 to 3.7% in 2023-2024, nearly double the state average. The graduation rate of 80.3% in 2023-2024 trails the state average of 85.4%. Performance has declined across nearly all student subgroups between 2022-2023 and 2025-2026, suggesting systemic challenges. Still, there are encouraging signs: the school's overall ranking improved from the 12th percentile in 2020-2021 to the 25th percentile in 2025-2026, and its success with advanced students demonstrates that effective instruction is possible within the building. The key opportunity lies in applying what works for Gifted and Talented students more broadly, while addressing the mathematics gap and absenteeism that currently hold the school back.

557

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,115

Per pupil spending ?

65.8%

Directly certified for free meals (2023-24) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2023-24)

≥ 96%

Students (all grades) with required immunizations (2025-26)

474 Jackson Street
Barnwell, SC 29812

(803) 541-1390

District: Barnwell

Feeder schools for Barnwell High:

Elementary:	Barnwell Primary
Middle:	Barnwell Elementary
	Guinyard-Butler Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

47.0%

White:

41.5%

Hispanic:

5.6%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

Compare Barnwell High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 25th percentile in 2015 → 26th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (58% vs 69% meeting standards)

!Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 scores 18 pts below the South Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg55%

South Carolina avg69%

184^th of 248

South Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 33% (2016) to bottom 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3High Schools in the Barnwell

64^th of 75Barnwell among South Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.7	184 of 248	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.2	164 of 243	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.2	150 of 237	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.5	175 of 226	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.5	199 of 227	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.6	175 of 225	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.8	158 of 216	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.9	181 of 223	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	32.3	155 of 231	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	26.0	174 of 232	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	27.3	159 of 210	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	32.0	150 of 203	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	47.2	120 of 202	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.9	127 of 199	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	49.7	119 of 199	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	29.1	156 of 188	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	49.3	109 of 185	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	59.3	95 of 191	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	42.9	153 of 191	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	49.0	126 of 187	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	26.5	156 of 200	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	141 of 197	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.0	111 of 199	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.7	156 of 190	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.9	172 of 178	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.6	159 of 184	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.6	138 of 183	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	28.2	104 of 143	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.9	94 of 137	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.6	167 of 229	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	157 of 231	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.8	144 of 223	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.3	180 of 220	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.4	181 of 213	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	177 of 213	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.7	156 of 210	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	72.0	22 of 158	86.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	183 of 241	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	172 of 235	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.0	153 of 226	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.3	180 of 220	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.0	198 of 213	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.4	185 of 217	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.5	173 of 214	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.4	177 of 233	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.2	170 of 234	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.2	150 of 229	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.9	172 of 224	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.7	194 of 215	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.7	169 of 218	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.7	168 of 213	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.6	173 of 203	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.0	142 of 202	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.1	104 of 197	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.0	140 of 192	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.1	168 of 189	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.1	150 of 191	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.5	135 of 185	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2024)86th percentile+54 vs school

Disabled (2019)27th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)27th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)24th percentile~ school

Male (2026)24th percentile~ school

African American (2026)22nd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)15th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English 272%-11 vs state

U.S. History and the Constitution59%-4 vs state

Biology 1/Applied Biology 243%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Barnwell High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)			SC READY Mathematics (2026)			SC READY Science (2026)	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2026)	EOCEP Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (2026)	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution (2026)	EOCEP English 2 (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2026)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2023-24)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	EOCEP Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 End of Course	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course	EOCEP English 2 End of Course	Vaccination: Students (all grades) with required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Barnwell High	Public	9-12	474 Jackson Street	Barnwell	29812	Barnwell County	Barnwell	No	No	No	No	(803) 541-1390	557	39	14.4	65.8%	231 (41.5%)	262 (47.0%)	31 (5.6%)	11 (2.0%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.5%)	17 (3.1%)	28.7	184^th of 248 public high schools	25.8%					(n/a)									42.9	58.5	72.4	≥ 96%		$18,115	$1,286	$1,416	$2,702	$13,224	$2,189	$15,413
Barnwell County Career Center	Public	9-12	5214 Reynolds Road	Blackville	29817	Barnwell County	Barnwell	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(803) 259-5512	0	13	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Blackville-Hilda High	Public	9-12	76 Atkins Circle	Blackville	29817	Barnwell County	Barnwell	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(803) 284-5700	140	16	8.7	—	12 (8.6%)	113 (80.7%)	10 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.6%)	31.5	174^th of 248 public high schools	29.8%					(n/a)									57.6	43.6	75.9	91%		$23,154	$976	$1,696	$2,671	$18,136	$2,346	$20,483
Williston-Elko High	Public	9-12	12233 Main Street	Williston	29853	Barnwell County	Barnwell	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(803) 266-3110	192	14	14.2	—	65 (33.9%)	116 (60.4%)	6 (3.1%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	19.3	215^th of 248 public high schools	13.3%					(n/a)									54.7	30.6	66.7	95%		$19,286	$465	$976	$1,441	$15,577	$2,268	$17,845
Denmark-Olar High	Public	9-12	197 Viking Circle	Denmark	29042	Bamberg County	Bamberg 03	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(803) 793-3307	181	19	9.5	82.5%	6 (3.3%)	173 (95.6%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66.1	80^th of 248 public high schools	67.7%		44.2	126^th of 240 public high schools	47.5%	46								87.5	60.5	81.5	78.6	≥ 96%		$23,100	$1,947	$771	$2,718	$16,491	$3,891	$20,381
Allendale-Fairfax High	Public	9-12	3581 Allendale-Fairfax Highway	Fairfax	29827	Allendale County	Allendale 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 584-2311	252	32	7.8	79.6%	12 (4.8%)	233 (92.5%)	5 (2.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	9.7	233^rd of 248 public high schools	6.0%		15.8	209^th of 240 public high schools	12.9%	24									25.0	34.0	72.7	≥ 96%		$29,126	$2,345	$1,581	$3,926	$17,261	$7,939	$25,200
Allendale High	Public	9-12	1057 Revolutionary Trail	Fairfax	29827	Allendale County	Dept Of Correction N04	No	No	No	No	(803) 632-2561	8	1	8.0	—	3 (37.5%)	4 (50.0%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High	Public	6-12	7066 Norway Road	Neeses	29107	Orangeburg County	Orangeburg	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 263-4832	220	17	12.8	82.2%	33 (15.0%)	180 (81.8%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.3%)	5.3	239^th of 248 public high schools	3.6%		14.9	212^th of 240 public high schools	11.7%	27	30.4	42.3	53.2	9.1	11.5	28.1	30.4			7.1	71.4	96%		$20,171	$1,117	$1,940	$3,057	$14,779	$2,336	$17,115
Bamberg-Ehrhardt High	Public	9-12	267 Red Raider Drive	Bamberg	29003	Bamberg County	Bamberg 03	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(803) 245-3030	383	32	11.9	63.8%	147 (38.4%)	216 (56.4%)	13 (3.4%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	50.4	123^rd of 248 public high schools	50.4%		46	119^th of 240 public high schools	50.4%	4								86.1	56.2	51.5	80.6	≥ 96%		$19,912	$1,437	$562	$2,000	$14,733	$3,179	$17,912

Frequently Asked Questions about Barnwell High

How many students attend Barnwell High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 557 students attended Barnwell High.

What is the racial makeup of Barnwell High?

Students at Barnwell High are 47% African American, 41% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Barnwell High in?

Barnwell

Is Barnwell High a good school?

Barnwell High ranks 184^th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What schools feed into Barnwell High?

Barnwell High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Barnwell Primary
Middle : Barnwell Elementary
Middle : Guinyard-Butler Middle

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 20, 2026

2025–26 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data & dropout ratesOct 12, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.