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Laing Middle

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

18^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 341 South Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 95% of South Carolina middle schools

Summary

Laing Middle in Mount Pleasant, SC, is a high-performing public school serving 986 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Charleston 01 school district, and it has earned a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past decade.

Laing Middle consistently ranks in the top 5% of all middle schools in South Carolina, currently placing 16th out of 335 schools statewide. Its academic achievement is exceptional—proficiency rates in English Language Arts range from 82.8% to 85.6%, and in math from 73.3% to 76.3%, both roughly 30 percentage points above state averages. A standout metric is the school's Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam performance, where Laing has achieved a perfect 100% proficiency rate for three consecutive years, outpacing the state average by 26 points. The school also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.0%, compared to district and state averages above 20%. Notably, Laing excels with students from low socio-economic backgrounds, ranking in the 95th percentile statewide for this subgroup, demonstrating strong, equitable instructional practices across all student populations.

Laing sits in a highly competitive cluster of elite schools in Mount Pleasant. Its neighbor, Thomas C. Cario Middle (2 miles away), ranks 7th in the state and slightly outpaces Laing in some subjects—for example, Cario's 6th-grade math proficiency is 84.2% versus Laing's 73.3%. Moultrie Middle (6 miles away) ranks 15th. However, the contrast within the district is stark: while Laing ranks 16th, other district schools like Morningside Middle (331st) and Simmons Pinckney Middle (333rd) sit at the bottom of state rankings. Laing's per-student spending of $17,706 is comparable to other high-performing area schools but significantly lower than lower-performing district schools, indicating highly effective resource management. While the school's overall performance is outstanding, data shows a relative dip in achievement for its African American students, ranking in the 60th percentile in the most recent year—a potential area for targeted support to ensure equitable outcomes for all learners.

986

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,363

Per pupil spending ?

20.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2023-24) ?

2705 Bulrush Basket Lane
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

(843) 849-2809

District: Charleston 01

Feeder schools for Laing Middle:

Elementary:	Belle Hall Elementary
	Jennie Moore Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.7%

African American:

11.5%

Hispanic:

4.1%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 94th percentile in 2016 → 95th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (79% vs 51% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% of South Carolina middle schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school79%

District avg61%

South Carolina avg51%

18^th of 341

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 5%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 12Middle Schools in the Charleston 01

22^nd 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	96.1	18 of 341	94.7%	★★★★★
2025	96.4	16 of 321	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	98.2	7 of 322	97.8%	★★★★★
2023	97.5	13 of 325	96.0%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	9 of 310	97.1%	★★★★★
2021	98.6	8 of 311	97.4%	★★★★★
2019	96.1	16 of 315	94.9%	★★★★★
2018	95.3	15 of 303	95.0%	★★★★★
2017	93.8	20 of 317	93.7%	★★★★★
2016	92.2	19 of 303	93.7%	★★★★★
2015	94.0	14 of 301	95.3%	★★★★★
2014	88.6	25 of 291	91.4%	★★★★★
2013	87.4	23 of 276	91.7%	★★★★★
2012	80.3	37 of 271	86.3%	★★★★☆
2011	82.8	32 of 269	88.1%	★★★★☆
2010	84.6	23 of 261	91.2%	★★★★★
2009	78.4	42 of 249	83.1%	★★★★☆
2008	77.8	42 of 244	82.8%	★★★★☆
2007	74.0	55 of 236	76.7%	★★★★☆
2006	83.0	31 of 231	86.6%	★★★★☆
2005	82.4	31 of 230	86.5%	★★★★☆
2004	81.7	33 of 230	85.7%	★★★★☆
2003	86.0	21 of 225	90.7%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	103 of 258	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.2	100 of 251	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.2	48 of 246	80.5%	★★★★☆
2023	77.7	35 of 253	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	79.7	27 of 249	89.2%	★★★★☆
2021	80.2	27 of 235	88.5%	★★★★☆
2019	57.3	84 of 252	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.2	111 of 237	53.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.1	24 of 192	87.5%	★★★★☆
2025	68.0	35 of 184	81.0%	★★★★☆
2024	97.5	2 of 177	98.9%	★★★★★
2023	83.0	15 of 187	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	92.0	6 of 183	96.7%	★★★★★
2021	92.4	6 of 164	96.3%	★★★★★
2019	98.2	1 of 195	99.5%	★★★★★
2018	94.0	2 of 194	99.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	96.3	13 of 310	95.8%	★★★★★
2025	95.9	12 of 295	95.9%	★★★★★
2024	97.7	7 of 293	97.6%	★★★★★
2023	97.6	10 of 299	96.7%	★★★★★
2022	97.7	7 of 290	97.6%	★★★★★
2021	98.0	6 of 279	97.8%	★★★★★
2019	94.4	15 of 296	94.9%	★★★★★
2018	96.2	10 of 281	96.4%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.0	40 of 197	79.7%	★★★★☆
2025	77.0	20 of 173	88.4%	★★★★☆
2024	79.1	13 of 184	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	80.1	9 of 185	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	84.9	2 of 182	98.9%	★★★★★
2021	85.2	6 of 179	96.6%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	98.3	2 of 123	98.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.6	18 of 325	94.5%	★★★★★
2025	86.3	26 of 308	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	89.7	20 of 304	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	86.5	31 of 313	90.1%	★★★★★
2022	79.8	46 of 300	84.7%	★★★★☆
2021	94.8	8 of 288	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	75.3	53 of 289	81.7%	★★★★☆
2018	71.5	55 of 280	80.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	95.3	15 of 310	95.2%	★★★★★
2025	96.3	12 of 298	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	98.2	8 of 292	97.3%	★★★★★
2023	96.8	12 of 303	96.0%	★★★★★
2022	98.2	8 of 292	97.3%	★★★★★
2021	98.9	5 of 279	98.2%	★★★★★
2019	97.1	12 of 296	95.9%	★★★★★
2018	94.4	16 of 284	94.4%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	93.2	13 of 271	95.2%	★★★★★
2025	93.5	11 of 259	95.8%	★★★★★
2024	96.3	6 of 256	97.7%	★★★★★
2023	95.0	10 of 260	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	97.0	5 of 249	98.0%	★★★★★
2021	97.0	5 of 244	98.0%	★★★★★
2019	93.7	13 of 258	95.0%	★★★★★
2018	92.1	16 of 250	93.6%	★★★★★

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)

Hispanic (2018)98th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)96th percentile~ school

White (2026)95th percentile~ school

Male (2026)95th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)94th percentile~ school

Disabled (2026)88th percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)80th percentile-15 vs school

African American (2026)60th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts84%+26 vs state

Science78%+26 vs state

Mathematics75%+32 vs state

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Schools Near Laing 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)		EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2026)	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	Free/reduced lunch (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 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 4th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	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
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	20.5%	786 (79.7%)	113 (11.5%)	40 (4.1%)	20 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	25 (2.5%)	96.1	18^th of 341 public middle schools	94.7%		96.4	16^th of 321 public middle schools	95.0%	2				85.6	82.8	83.0				73.3	73.9	76.3		77.9		$16,363	$640	$440	$1,080	$12,448	$2,835	$15,283
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	14.2%	920 (83.3%)	48 (4.3%)	71 (6.4%)	23 (2.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (3.7%)	97.7	8^th of 341 public middle schools	97.7%		97.9	6^th of 321 public middle schools	98.1%	2				90.1	88.7	84.2				84.2	81.5	76.4		81.5		$15,024	$724	$269	$993	$11,245	$2,787	$14,031
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	47.6%	281 (59.4%)	115 (24.3%)	33 (7.0%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (8.2%)	68.5	92^nd of 341 public middle schools	73.0%		64.8	99^th of 321 public middle schools	69.2%	7				62.7	74.0	60.9				44.4	52.2	46.2		57.2		$14,751	$454	$609	$1,063	$11,712	$1,976	$13,688
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	20.1%	969 (85.8%)	67 (5.9%)	50 (4.4%)	23 (2.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (1.7%)	96.5	16^th of 341 public middle schools	95.3%		97.5	8^th of 321 public middle schools	97.5%	8				84.0	81.5	82.9				82.0	74.2	79.3		80.1		$14,751	$545	$376	$921	$11,312	$2,518	$13,830
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	21.4%	395 (75.8%)	50 (9.6%)	24 (4.6%)	30 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.0%)	99.7	2^nd of 341 public middle schools	99.4%		99.8	2^nd of 321 public middle schools	99.4%		100.0	100.0	100.0	99.0	100.0	94.8	100.0	100.0	97.4	98.9	100.0	89.6	100.0	98.9		$18,013	$843	$676	$1,518	$13,123	$3,372	$16,495
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%)	4.8	338^th of 341 public middle schools	0.9%		6.3	319^th of 321 public middle schools	0.6%	19				25.0	27.2	20.6				8.9	9.4	17.3		16.0		$37,061	$880	$814	$1,694	$25,893	$9,475	$35,367
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%)	5.1	337^th of 341 public middle schools	1.2%		6.9	315^th of 321 public middle schools	1.9%	22				21.6	28.4	25.4				12.2	9.5	15.2		19.5		$19,653	$2,456	$620	$3,076	$12,824	$3,752	$16,577
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	34.2%	681 (75.6%)	146 (16.2%)	27 (3.0%)	9 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	36 (4.0%)	89.9	28^th of 341 public middle schools	91.8%		89.6	30^th of 321 public middle schools	90.7%	2				78.2	75.5	74.7				64.8	60.6	71.3		69.1		$15,649	$964	$505	$1,468	$11,093	$3,089	$14,181
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	35.8%	254 (58.8%)	87 (20.1%)	34 (7.9%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (11.3%)	90.5	25^th of 341 public middle schools	92.7%		88.8	33^rd of 321 public middle schools	89.7%	8				81.1	81.1	73.9				65.4	56.3	60.9		78.4		$15,767	$652	$503	$1,155	$12,609	$2,002	$14,611
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	56.0%	394 (49.3%)	98 (12.3%)	189 (23.7%)	24 (3.0%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (10.5%)	49.5	161^st of 341 public middle schools	52.8%		55.8	125^th of 321 public middle schools	61.1%	36				51.1	57.1	55.8				44.3	44.4	38.0		43.9		$13,975	$706	$560	$1,267	$10,843	$1,865	$12,709

Frequently Asked Questions about Laing Middle

How many students attend Laing Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 986 students attended Laing Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Laing Middle?

Students at Laing Middle are 80% White, 11% African American, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Laing Middle in?

Charleston 01

Is Laing Middle a good school?

Yes. Laing Middle ranks in the top 5.3% of South Carolina middle schools.

Rate Laing Middle!

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

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

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 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.