Summary
Waccamaw High in Pawleys Island, SC, is a mid-sized public high school serving 808 students in grades 9-12, and it stands out as the top-performing traditional high school in the Georgetown 01 district, ranking 26th out of 245 high schools statewide (89th percentile) with a 4-star rating.
This school is a clear academic standout, especially when compared to its district peers. Waccamaw outperforms Georgetown High and Carvers Bay Early College and Career High by 20-40 percentage points in most subjects. For example, in U.S. History, Waccamaw students hit 85.64% proficiency versus the state average of 62.57%, and in English 2, they reach 93.02% proficiency. The school also boasts a 94.5% graduation rate—the highest among nearby schools, including St. James High (91.5%) and Coastal High School (92.6%)—and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 13.7%, dramatically lower than the state average of 22.3%. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.9:1, families can expect more personalized attention than at larger Horry 01 schools like Socastee High (18.1:1).
However, there are two areas parents should note. First, math is a persistent challenge: Algebra 1 proficiency has lagged the state for three straight years, dropping to 47.25% in 2023-2024 before recovering to 68.8% in 2024-2025 (still below the state's 73.95%). Second, while the school excels with disabled students (ranking 13th out of 139 schools, 5 stars) and economically disadvantaged students (81st percentile), its gifted and talented program has been inconsistent, ranking as low as 124th in 2024-2025 before recovering to 77th. Despite spending less per student ($13,730) than district peers, Waccamaw delivers exceptional results—making it a strong choice for families prioritizing humanities, graduation rates, and a supportive environment, though math support may be worth investigating.
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