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Thomas C. Cario Middle

Public Grades 6-8

7^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 335 South Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 98% of South Carolina middle schools

Summary

Thomas C. Cario Middle in Mount Pleasant, SC, is a large, high-performing public school serving 1,105 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Charleston 01 district.

Cario Middle consistently ranks among the top 10 middle schools in South Carolina, earning a 5-star rating and a 98th percentile ranking in the most recent school year. What truly sets it apart is its remarkable success with all student groups. It ranked #1 in the entire state for its effectiveness with disabled students for three consecutive years, and it also ranks in the 99th percentile for its work with Hispanic students. Academically, the school posts exceptional results: Algebra 1 proficiency rates hover near 99.5%, and English Language Arts proficiency sits between 84% and 90% across all grade levels—roughly 25-30 points above the state average. Chronic absenteeism is also a non-issue, at just 10.8% compared to the state average of 22.3%, reflecting strong family engagement.

For parents comparing options, Cario stands out even among its excellent neighbors. Just two miles away, Laing Middle is also a strong school, but Cario outperforms it in nearly every subject and grade level—for example, 84.2% proficiency in 6th-grade math versus Laing's 73.3%. While Buist Academy in downtown Charleston posts slightly higher raw scores, it does so with a much smaller student body (521 students) and a lower student-teacher ratio. Cario's achievement is arguably more impressive given its larger, more traditional enrollment. Notably, Cario achieves these results while spending less per student ($16,294) than several district peers, including Camp Road Middle ($17,753) and Laing Middle ($17,706). This combination of top-tier outcomes, efficiency, and success across all student subgroups makes Cario a standout choice for families in the Mount Pleasant area.

1,105

Students ?

17.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,294

Per pupil spending ?

14.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3500 Thomas Cario Boulevard
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

(843) 856-4595

District: Charleston 01

Students who attend Thomas C. Cario Middle usually attend:

High:

Wando High

Feeder schools for Thomas C. Cario Middle:

Elementary:	Carolina Park Elementary
	Charles Pinckney Elementary
	Laurel Hill Primary

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.3%

Hispanic:

6.4%

African American:

4.3%

See top rated South Carolina middle schools

Compare Thomas C. Cario Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2016 → 98th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (84% vs 51% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of South Carolina middle schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Charleston 01

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school84%

District avg61%

South Carolina avg51%

7^th of 335

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 12Middle Schools in the Charleston 01

21^st of 75Charleston 01 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	97.9	7 of 335	97.9%	★★★★★
2025	97.9	6 of 320	98.1%	★★★★★
2024	99.2	3 of 325	99.1%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	5 of 325	98.5%	★★★★★
2022	98.2	8 of 310	97.4%	★★★★★
2021	98.6	9 of 311	97.1%	★★★★★
2019	97.5	11 of 315	96.5%	★★★★★
2018	97.2	12 of 303	96.0%	★★★★★
2017	95.4	12 of 317	96.2%	★★★★★
2016	96.1	10 of 303	96.7%	★★★★★
2015	96.1	9 of 301	97.0%	★★★★★
2014	95.2	8 of 291	97.3%	★★★★★
2013	94.7	7 of 276	97.5%	★★★★★
2012	93.8	6 of 271	97.8%	★★★★★
2011	92.8	8 of 269	97.0%	★★★★★
2010	93.3	7 of 261	97.3%	★★★★★
2009	93.5	7 of 249	97.2%	★★★★★
2008	93.5	7 of 244	97.1%	★★★★★
2007	93.1	7 of 236	97.0%	★★★★★
2006	93.9	5 of 231	97.8%	★★★★★
2005	95.4	4 of 230	98.3%	★★★★★
2004	94.9	5 of 230	97.8%	★★★★★
2003	95.2	4 of 225	98.2%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	58.3	76 of 249	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.0	118 of 235	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.8	60 of 252	76.2%	★★★★☆
2018	55.4	85 of 237	64.1%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	99.7	1 of 191	99.5%	★★★★★
2025	98.0	2 of 184	98.9%	★★★★★
2024	98.2	1 of 177	99.4%	★★★★★
2023	98.9	1 of 187	99.5%	★★★★★
2022	86.1	8 of 183	95.6%	★★★★★
2021	83.9	11 of 164	93.3%	★★★★★
2019	88.6	13 of 195	93.3%	★★★★★
2018	68.4	35 of 194	82.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	98.2	3 of 305	99.0%	★★★★★
2025	98.0	4 of 295	98.6%	★★★★★
2024	99.1	2 of 294	99.3%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	2 of 299	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	98.6	6 of 290	97.9%	★★★★★
2021	98.5	3 of 279	98.9%	★★★★★
2019	96.4	9 of 296	97.0%	★★★★★
2018	96.2	9 of 281	96.8%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	79.2	2 of 185	98.9%	★★★★★
2025	77.8	12 of 173	93.1%	★★★★★
2024	83.8	1 of 183	99.5%	★★★★★
2023	83.7	2 of 185	98.9%	★★★★★
2022	83.3	6 of 182	96.7%	★★★★★
2021	85.1	8 of 179	95.5%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	98.8	2 of 159	98.7%	★★★★★
2025	93.3	5 of 156	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	98.2	2 of 141	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	93.9	4 of 139	97.1%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	98.1	6 of 320	98.1%	★★★★★
2025	96.1	9 of 307	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	98.9	5 of 307	98.4%	★★★★★
2023	97.7	5 of 313	98.4%	★★★★★
2022	94.8	8 of 300	97.3%	★★★★★
2021	92.6	12 of 288	95.8%	★★★★★
2019	93.0	18 of 289	93.8%	★★★★★
2018	94.6	13 of 280	95.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	97.2	9 of 306	97.1%	★★★★★
2025	97.6	6 of 296	98.0%	★★★★★
2024	98.9	4 of 294	98.6%	★★★★★
2023	98.4	5 of 303	98.3%	★★★★★
2022	97.6	9 of 292	96.9%	★★★★★
2021	98.4	7 of 279	97.5%	★★★★★
2019	98.2	10 of 296	96.6%	★★★★★
2018	97.5	12 of 284	95.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	94.0	10 of 268	96.3%	★★★★★
2025	95.4	7 of 257	97.3%	★★★★★
2024	97.2	4 of 255	98.4%	★★★★★
2023	96.6	6 of 260	97.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.3	10 of 249	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	95.8	7 of 244	97.1%	★★★★★
2019	93.6	14 of 258	94.6%	★★★★★
2018	92.4	15 of 250	94.0%	★★★★★

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)

Disabled (2026)99th percentile~ school

Female (2026)99th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)99th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)98th percentile~ school

Male (2026)97th percentile~ school

White (2026)96th percentile~ school

African American (2022)69th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts88%+29 vs state

Science82%+30 vs state

Mathematics81%+38 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, October 27, 2017

My son went through Cario Middle School several years ago. I loved it back then and still love it now that my daughter is going through. They have added so many related arts classes. Also I LOVE the Guidance Department. The Band, Chorus, Orchestra and Drama are top notch here at this school. The band teacher has taken it to a whole new level. They sound Great!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Thomas C. Cario Middle

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)			SC READY Mathematics (2026)				SC READY Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	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 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	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
Thomas C. Cario Middle	Public	6-8	3500 Thomas Cario Boulevard	Mount Pleasant	29466	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 856-4595	1,105	65	17.0		920 (83.3%)	48 (4.3%)	71 (6.4%)	23 (2.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (3.7%)	97.9	7^th of 335 public middle schools	97.9%		97.9	6^th of 320 public middle schools	98.1%	1	90.1	88.7	84.2		84.2	81.5	76.4	81.5	$16,294	$3,086	$1,033	$4,119	$9,798	$2,377	$12,175
Laing Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	2705 Bulrush Basket Lane	Mount Pleasant	29466	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 849-2809	986	61	16.2		786 (79.7%)	113 (11.5%)	40 (4.1%)	20 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	25 (2.5%)	96.5	16^th of 335 public middle schools	95.2%		96.4	16^th of 320 public middle schools	95.0%		85.6	82.8	83.0		73.3	73.9	76.3	77.9	$17,706	$3,232	$1,388	$4,619	$10,596	$2,491	$13,087
Philip Simmons Middle	Public	6-8	2065 Seven Sticks Drive	Wando	29492	Berkeley County	Berkeley 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 471-2590	473	32	15.0		281 (59.4%)	115 (24.3%)	33 (7.0%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (8.2%)	69.2	89^th of 335 public middle schools	73.4%		64.8	100^th of 320 public middle schools	68.8%	11	62.7	74.0	60.9		44.4	52.2	46.2	57.2	$13,927	$538	$879	$1,417	$10,720	$1,791	$12,510
Moultrie Middle	Public	6-8	645 Coleman Boulevard	Mount Pleasant	29464	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 849-2819	1,130	65	17.4		969 (85.8%)	67 (5.9%)	50 (4.4%)	23 (2.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (1.7%)	96.9	15^th of 335 public middle schools	95.5%		97.5	8^th of 320 public middle schools	97.5%	7	84.0	81.5	82.9		82.0	74.2	79.3	80.1	$16,249	$2,911	$1,141	$4,052	$9,964	$2,233	$12,196
Buist Academy	Public, Magnet	3-8	103 Calhoun Street	Charleston	29401	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 724-7750	521	37	14.0		395 (75.8%)	50 (9.6%)	24 (4.6%)	30 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.0%)	99.6	1^st of 335 public middle schools	99.7%		99.8	2^nd of 320 public middle schools	99.4%	1	99.0		94.8	97.4			89.6	98.9	$18,527	$3,273	$1,393	$4,665	$10,917	$2,944	$13,862
Simmons Pinckney Middle	Public	6-8	244 President Street	Charleston	29403	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 724-7789	190	25	7.6		2 (1.1%)	177 (93.2%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.2%)	4.6	333^rd of 335 public middle schools	0.6%		6.3	317^th of 320 public middle schools	0.9%	16	25.0	27.2	20.6		8.9	9.4	17.3	16.0	$36,562	$4,770	$1,679	$6,450	$23,471	$6,641	$30,112
Morningside Middle	Public	6-8	1999 Singley Lane	North Charleston	29405	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 745-2000	552	50	11.1		24 (4.3%)	267 (48.4%)	242 (43.8%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.4%)	4.9	331^st of 335 public middle schools	1.2%		6.9	313^th of 320 public middle schools	2.2%	18	21.6	28.4	25.4		12.2	9.5	15.2	19.5	$22,401	$5,771	$1,776	$7,548	$11,269	$3,584	$14,853
Marrington Middle School of the Arts	Public, Magnet	6-8	109 Gearing Street	Goose Creek	29445	Berkeley County	Berkeley 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 572-0313	432	28	15.4		254 (58.8%)	87 (20.1%)	34 (7.9%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (11.3%)	91.1	24^th of 335 public middle schools	92.8%		88.8	34^th of 320 public middle schools	89.4%	10	81.1	81.1	73.9		65.4	56.3	60.9	78.4	$14,944	$769	$756	$1,525	$11,628	$1,791	$13,419
Hanahan Middle	Public	6-8	4200 Railroad Ave	Hanahan	29410	Berkeley County	Berkeley 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 820-3800	799	47	17.0		394 (49.3%)	98 (12.3%)	189 (23.7%)	24 (3.0%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (10.5%)	50	158^th of 335 public middle schools	52.8%		55.8	125^th of 320 public middle schools	60.9%	33	51.1	57.1	55.8		44.3	44.4	38.0	43.9	$12,716	$764	$845	$1,609	$9,363	$1,744	$11,108
Camp Road Middle	Public	6-8	1825 Camp Road	Charleston	29412	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 762-2784	901	53	16.9		681 (75.6%)	146 (16.2%)	27 (3.0%)	9 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	36 (4.0%)	90.6	26^th of 335 public middle schools	92.2%		89.6	30^th of 320 public middle schools	90.6%	4	78.2	75.5	74.7		64.8	60.6	71.3	69.1	$17,753	$3,505	$1,295	$4,799	$9,968	$2,986	$12,954

Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas C. Cario Middle

What high school do graduates of Thomas C. Cario Middle attend?

Students who attend Thomas C. Cario Middle usually go on to attend Wando High

What district is Thomas C. Cario Middle in?

Charleston 01

How many students attend Thomas C. Cario Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,105 students attended Thomas C. Cario Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Thomas C. Cario Middle?

Students at Thomas C. Cario Middle are 83% White, 6% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Thomas C. Cario Middle a good school?

Yes! Thomas C. Cario Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 7^th of 335 South Carolina middle schools.

Rate Thomas C. Cario Middle!

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 10, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 3, 2025

2024–25 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresSep 2, 2025

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.