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Black Water Middle

Q: Is Black Water Middle a good school?

Black Water Middle ranks 149 th of 320 South Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

149^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 320 South Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 53% of South Carolina middle schools

Summary

Black Water Middle is a public middle school in Conway, South Carolina, serving 796 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Horry 01 School District, which is ranked 9 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Black Water Middle consistently performs above the state average in standardized test scores, particularly in EOCEP/Algebra 1 and SC READY/English Language Arts. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school had 100% proficiency in EOCEP/Algebra 1, compared to 90.02% for the Horry 01 district and 73.95% for the state. Additionally, Black Water Middle's proficiency rates in SC READY/English Language Arts were 48.5% for 6th grade, 54.8% for 7th grade, and 57.1% for 8th grade, outperforming both the district and state averages. The school has also shown strong performance across various student subgroups, with high rankings for African American and English Language Learner students.

While Black Water Middle has experienced fluctuations in its chronic absenteeism rates, the school's academic performance is generally stronger than the nearby Socastee Middle, Ocean Bay Middle, and Ten Oaks Middle schools, particularly in EOCEP/Algebra 1 and SC READY/English Language Arts. Despite having a relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Black Water Middle has been able to maintain strong academic performance, indicating effective strategies for supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

789

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,311

Per pupil spending ?

65.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

900 East Cox Ferry Road
Conway, SC 29526

(843) 903-8440

District: Horry 01

Students who attend Black Water Middle usually attend:

High:

Carolina Forest High

Feeder schools for Black Water Middle:

Elementary:	Palmetto Bays Elementary
	Waccamaw Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.8%

Hispanic:

28.5%

African American:

19.5%

See top rated South Carolina middle schools

Compare Black Water Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2015 → 53rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the South Carolina median (53rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2015

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

!Near the bottom of Horry 01's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg57%

South Carolina avg50%

149^th of 320

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 47%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 35% (2015) to top 47% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 12Middle Schools in the Horry 01

9^th of 75Horry 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
2025	49.2	149 of 320	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.6	118 of 325	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.6	124 of 325	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.4	133 of 310	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.2	125 of 311	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.3	120 of 315	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.4	115 of 303	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.3	112 of 317	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	67.6	81 of 303	73.3%	★★★★☆
2015	58.1	104 of 301	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.4	137 of 291	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	56.2	129 of 276	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.9	125 of 271	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.7	137 of 269	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.8	138 of 261	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	54.8	127 of 249	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	67.0	88 of 244	63.9%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	55.0	95 of 252	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.2	99 of 248	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.5	63 of 253	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	60.1	66 of 249	73.5%	★★★★☆
2021	53.5	86 of 235	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	138 of 252	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.6	83 of 237	65.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	44.5	94 of 184	48.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.2	79 of 177	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.1	119 of 187	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.3	103 of 183	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.7	74 of 164	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.5	56 of 195	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	51.3	81 of 194	58.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	38.8	58 of 108	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.8	32 of 105	69.5%	★★★★☆
2023	65.8	24 of 95	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	60.0	31 of 97	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.9	34 of 87	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.2	70 of 117	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.1	51 of 93	45.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	50.9	136 of 295	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.5	118 of 294	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.2	124 of 299	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.7	136 of 290	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.8	121 of 279	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.3	136 of 296	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.4	132 of 281	53.0%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	54.1	112 of 173	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.6	149 of 183	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	55.2	108 of 185	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.0	125 of 182	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.9	101 of 179	43.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	44.4	82 of 156	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.8	41 of 144	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	58.9	47 of 141	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.9	56 of 129	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.4	49 of 111	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.8	57 of 139	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.4	70 of 123	43.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	64.0	86 of 307	72.0%	★★★★☆
2024	75.1	54 of 307	82.4%	★★★★☆
2023	71.4	72 of 313	77.0%	★★★★☆
2022	70.1	69 of 300	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	76.7	49 of 288	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	70.4	64 of 289	77.9%	★★★★☆
2018	69.4	63 of 280	77.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	47.2	151 of 296	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.9	106 of 294	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.8	110 of 303	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.8	116 of 292	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.0	107 of 279	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.4	101 of 296	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.9	100 of 284	64.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	47.0	25 of 52	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.5	24 of 58	58.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	46.8	138 of 257	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.8	123 of 255	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.1	146 of 260	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.5	138 of 249	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.8	103 of 244	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.3	137 of 258	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.5	130 of 250	48.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)72nd percentile+19 vs school

African American (2025)62nd percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)54th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2024)52nd percentile-12 vs school

Male (2025)49th percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2025)49th percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)47th percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)46th percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)46th percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)35th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2100%+26 vs state

English Language Arts54%-3 vs state

Science45%-3 vs state

Mathematics33%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Black Water Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SC READY English Language Arts (2025)				SC READY Mathematics (2025)				SC READY Science (2025)	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	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 5th 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	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
Black Water Middle	Public	6-8	900 East Cox Ferry Road	Conway	29526	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 903-8440	789	51	15.4		338 (42.8%)	154 (19.5%)	225 (28.5%)	10 (1.3%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (7.2%)	49.2	149^th of 320 public middle schools	53.4%		58.6	118^th of 325 public middle schools	63.7%	31		48.5	54.8	57.1		34.1	31.0	35.0	44.9	100.0	$13,311	$1,222	$578	$1,800	$10,079	$1,433	$11,512
Conway Middle	Public	6-8	1104 Elm Street	Conway	29526	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 488-6040	578	41	14.0		351 (60.7%)	119 (20.6%)	67 (11.6%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.9%)	60.6	108^th of 320 public middle schools	66.3%		62	111^th of 325 public middle schools	65.8%	3		55.6	59.9	59.0		43.8	38.3	34.5	49.4	100.0	$13,551	$1,072	$559	$1,631	$10,107	$1,814	$11,920
Whittemore Park Middle	Public	6-8	1808 Rhue Street	Conway	29527	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 488-0669	1,013	70	14.4		477 (47.1%)	277 (27.3%)	184 (18.2%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	67 (6.6%)	46.6	156^th of 320 public middle schools	51.3%		40.6	183^rd of 325 public middle schools	43.7%	27		47.6	57.6	50.7		33.1	27.9	29.0	52.0	98.3	$13,712	$1,451	$703	$2,154	$10,102	$1,455	$11,558
Ten Oaks Middle	Public	6-8	150 Revolutionary War Way	Myrtle Beach	29579	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 488-8896	1,264	80	15.8		737 (58.3%)	137 (10.8%)	235 (18.6%)	46 (3.6%)	6 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	103 (8.1%)	85.3	42^nd of 320 public middle schools	86.9%		85.5	44^th of 325 public middle schools	86.5%	2		67.8	71.7	67.6		58.8	54.4	48.5	66.6	100.0	$12,138	$716	$456	$1,171	$9,853	$1,113	$10,966
Forestbrook Middle	Public	6-8	4430 Gator Lane	Myrtle Beach	29588	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 236-7300	816	53	15.5		436 (53.4%)	76 (9.3%)	252 (30.9%)	8 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	40 (4.9%)	57	119^th of 320 public middle schools	62.8%		65.8	95^th of 325 public middle schools	70.8%	24		52.7	56.8	54.7		47.0	41.4	32.1	46.9	100.0	$13,107	$1,009	$426	$1,435	$10,446	$1,225	$11,671
Ocean Bay Middle	Public	6-8	905 International Drive	Myrtle Beach	29579	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 903-8420	801	49	16.5		558 (69.7%)	70 (8.7%)	108 (13.5%)	18 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (5.9%)	92.5	21^st of 320 public middle schools	93.4%		93.4	19^th of 325 public middle schools	94.2%	2		70.7	77.7	77.4		65.4	60.4	61.1	71.4	100.0	$12,815	$816	$486	$1,302	$10,186	$1,327	$11,513
Myrtle Beach Middle	Public	6-8	3101 North Oak Street	Myrtle Beach	29577	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 448-3932	1,146	71	16.2		383 (33.4%)	259 (22.6%)	391 (34.1%)	16 (1.4%)	6 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	89 (7.8%)	39.9	190^th of 320 public middle schools	40.6%		43.7	169^th of 325 public middle schools	48.0%	21		46.3	48.3	47.7		37.0	30.4	27.3	41.5	100.0	$12,371	$1,069	$512	$1,581	$9,328	$1,462	$10,790
Socastee Middle	Public	6-8	151 Sheffield Road	Myrtle Beach	29588	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 903-6051	527	37	14.2		351 (66.6%)	38 (7.2%)	74 (14.0%)	13 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	48 (9.1%)	87.6	36^th of 320 public middle schools	88.8%		88.6	33^rd of 325 public middle schools	89.8%	3		68.2	72.6	74.7		61.1	52.4	65.0	59.6	100.0	$13,839	$648	$430	$1,078	$11,385	$1,375	$12,760
St. James Intermediate	Public	5-6	9641 Scipio Lane	Myrtle Beach	29588	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 903-6005	883	53	16.6		637 (72.1%)	57 (6.5%)	104 (11.8%)	27 (3.1%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (6.1%)								(n/a)	72.1	64.4			58.8	55.4			65.4		$12,627	$945	$476	$1,421	$10,035	$1,171	$11,205
St. James Middle	Public	7-8	9775 St. James Road	Myrtle Beach	29588	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 650-5543	913	58	15.7		654 (71.6%)	56 (6.1%)	122 (13.4%)	13 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	66 (7.2%)	73.6	74^th of 320 public middle schools	76.9%		81	55^th of 325 public middle schools	83.1%	19			67.9	61.7			45.5	39.3		98.9	$12,683	$685	$391	$1,075	$10,334	$1,274	$11,608

Frequently Asked Questions about Black Water Middle

How many students attend Black Water Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 789 students attended Black Water Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Black Water Middle?

Students at Black Water Middle are 43% White, 29% Hispanic, 20% African American, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is Black Water Middle a good school?

Black Water Middle ranks 149^th of 320 South Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Black Water Middle in?

Horry 01

What high school do graduates of Black Water Middle attend?

Students who attend Black Water Middle usually go on to attend Carolina Forest High

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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.