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South Middle

Public Grades 6-8

280^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 335 South Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 16% of South Carolina middle schools

Summary

South Middle is a public middle school in Lancaster, SC, serving 439 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the Lancaster 01 school district.

South Middle is currently rated as a low-performing school compared to others across South Carolina, ranking in the 16th percentile statewide and earning a 1-star rating. This places it well behind most nearby schools, including Indian Land Middle (90th percentile), Buford Middle (59th percentile), and Andrew Jackson Middle (50th percentile). The only comparable school in the area is A. R. Rucker Middle, which sits just 2.65 miles away and performs at a similar level. Test scores in English Language Arts and math are roughly 20-30 percentage points below district averages and 15-25 points below state averages across all grade levels. For example, only 24.1% of 6th graders are proficient in math, compared to 52.7% in the district and 40.9% statewide. Chronic absenteeism is also a significant concern, with 29.8% of students missing school regularly—well above the district (21.5%) and state (22.3%) averages.

Despite these challenges, there are some bright spots worth noting. Students enrolled in Algebra 1 achieved a 94.11% proficiency rate on the end-of-course exam, far exceeding district (79.56%) and state (73.95%) averages—a remarkable achievement that suggests advanced math students are exceptionally well-supported. English Language Arts scores have also shown steady improvement over the past few years, with 6th-grade proficiency rising from 22.5% to 39.6% and 8th-grade from 32.4% to 43.6%. Additionally, the school has made notable progress with Hispanic students (jumping from the 16th to 35th percentile) and disabled students (from the 3rd to 25th percentile). South Middle spends $13,646 per student—more than higher-performing peers like Indian Land Middle ($11,377)—and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.5, indicating that funding and class sizes are not the primary obstacles. The combination of high spending, improving literacy initiatives, and exceptional advanced math results suggests the school is working to address its challenges, even as overall achievement remains a work in progress.

439

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,646

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1551 Billings Drive
Lancaster, SC 29720

(803) 283-8416

District: Lancaster 01

Students who attend South Middle usually attend:

High:

Lancaster High

Feeder schools for South Middle:

Elementary:	Brooklyn Springs Elementary
	Erwin Elementary
	McDonald Green Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.9%

White:

22.6%

Hispanic:

22.6%

See top rated South Carolina middle schools

Compare South Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 8th percentile in 2024 → 16th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 16th (2026) from a 8th-percentile low (2024)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (32% vs 51% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (30% vs 22% South Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg56%

South Carolina avg51%

280^th of 335

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 27 pts since 2016

From bottom 44% (2016) to bottom 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Middle Schools in the Lancaster 01

23^rd of 75Lancaster 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	19.1	280 of 335	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	14.3	283 of 320	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.9	299 of 325	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.7	298 of 325	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.1	273 of 310	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.0	237 of 311	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.7	236 of 315	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.1	217 of 303	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	37.1	205 of 317	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.6	170 of 303	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.5	208 of 301	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	33.2	212 of 291	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	40.4	182 of 276	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	38.3	187 of 271	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.7	180 of 269	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	41.0	178 of 261	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	49.7	145 of 249	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.5	151 of 244	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	46.2	144 of 236	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	36.4	163 of 231	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	29.7	176 of 230	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	33.2	166 of 230	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	31.4	167 of 225	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.2	213 of 257	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.9	215 of 252	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	228 of 248	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.5	244 of 253	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.4	242 of 249	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.9	189 of 235	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.5	203 of 252	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.9	177 of 237	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.2	143 of 191	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.6	164 of 184	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.2	171 of 177	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.8	175 of 187	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.5	177 of 183	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.5	164 of 164	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	38.9	116 of 195	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.0	114 of 194	41.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	14.6	102 of 108	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.3	100 of 105	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.0	86 of 95	9.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	83 of 97	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.8	54 of 87	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.1	73 of 117	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.7	64 of 93	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.5	237 of 305	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.2	244 of 295	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.7	265 of 294	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	275 of 299	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.1	264 of 290	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.0	216 of 279	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.5	216 of 296	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.6	182 of 281	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	27.1	154 of 179	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.3	104 of 159	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	17.9	138 of 156	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.4	121 of 144	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.3	120 of 141	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	103 of 129	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.4	79 of 111	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.8	86 of 139	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.1	78 of 123	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	25.7	257 of 320	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.8	265 of 307	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.1	285 of 307	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.4	290 of 313	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.6	268 of 300	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.6	213 of 288	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.7	190 of 289	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.7	188 of 280	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	14.0	278 of 306	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.2	277 of 296	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.3	279 of 294	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.2	278 of 303	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.5	260 of 292	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.6	218 of 279	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.0	227 of 296	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.5	220 of 284	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.0	222 of 268	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	12.5	235 of 257	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.7	248 of 255	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.4	252 of 260	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.6	237 of 249	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.9	197 of 244	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.6	171 of 258	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.1	163 of 250	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2026)35th percentile+18 vs school

Disabled (2026)25th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)22nd percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)20th percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)17th percentile~ school

African American (2026)17th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2021)14th percentile-10 vs school

Male (2026)9th percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)6th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts38%-20 vs state

Science37%-15 vs state

Mathematics25%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near South 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 (2024)	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 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	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
South Middle	Public	6-8	1551 Billings Drive	Lancaster	29720	Lancaster County	Lancaster 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 283-8416	439	38	11.5	100.0%	99 (22.6%)	219 (49.9%)	99 (22.6%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.1%)	19.1	280^th of 335 public middle schools	16.4%		14.3	283^rd of 320 public middle schools	11.6%	3		39.6	32.1	43.6		24.1	24.4	26.6	36.8	$13,646	$933	$426	$1,359	$10,178	$2,108	$12,286
A. R. Rucker Middle	Public	6-8	422 Old Dixie Road	Lancaster	29720	Lancaster County	Lancaster 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 416-8555	477	37	12.7	100.0%	125 (26.2%)	240 (50.3%)	78 (16.4%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.3%)	19.8	278^th of 335 public middle schools	17.0%		15.4	277^th of 320 public middle schools	13.4%	1		44.1	37.2	39.5		25.0	21.5	20.3	40.5	$13,783	$1,276	$309	$1,585	$9,947	$2,250	$12,198
Buford Middle	Public	6-8	1890 North Rocky River Road	Lancaster	29720	Lancaster County	Lancaster 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 285-8473	374	29	12.8	59.0%	292 (78.1%)	12 (3.2%)	55 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	55.9	137^th of 335 public middle schools	59.1%		59.4	113^th of 320 public middle schools	64.7%	24		45.0	59.6	57.6		42.0	53.8	60.8	40.5	$14,477	$399	$124	$523	$11,964	$1,990	$13,954
Andrew Jackson Middle	Public	6-8	6865 Kershaw Camden Highway	Kershaw	29067	Lancaster County	Lancaster 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 475-6021	480	32	14.9	70.5%	304 (63.3%)	120 (25.0%)	12 (2.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (9.0%)	46.6	169^th of 335 public middle schools	49.6%		49.9	145^th of 320 public middle schools	54.7%	24		47.5	42.8	56.5		45.1	32.6	50.9	48.8	$13,329	$310	$114	$424	$10,659	$2,246	$12,905
Lewisville Middle	Public	6-8	3595 Lancaster Highway	Richburg	29729	Chester County	Chester 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 789-5858	295	22	13.4	100.0%	162 (54.9%)	81 (27.5%)	32 (10.8%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	14 (4.7%)	67	96^th of 335 public middle schools	71.3%		50.5	141^st of 320 public middle schools	55.9%	45		70.4	64.2	69.4		45.1	42.9	38.4	57.2	$13,663	$2,170	$769	$2,939	$8,297	$2,427	$10,724
Castle Heights Middle	Public	6-8	2382 Firetower Road	Rock Hill	29730	York County	York 03	No	No	No	No	(803) 981-1400	669	48	13.9	100.0%	257 (38.4%)	205 (30.6%)	104 (15.5%)	12 (1.8%)	26 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	64 (9.6%)	39.4	205^th of 335 public middle schools	38.8%		42.2	177^th of 320 public middle schools	44.7%	28		44.9	54.4	44.1		38.3	37.4	38.2	45.1	$15,533	$610	$770	$1,380	$12,358	$1,795	$14,153
Indian Land Middle	Public	7-8	8361 Charlotte Highway	Indian Land	29707	Lancaster County	Lancaster 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 578-2500	1,102	64	17.2	27.8%	580 (52.6%)	129 (11.7%)	246 (22.3%)	98 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	48 (4.4%)	88.9	34^th of 335 public middle schools	89.9%		82.4	50^th of 320 public middle schools	84.4%	16			75.3	74.2			66.1	60.4		$11,377	$335	$142	$477	$8,830	$2,070	$10,900
Indian Land Intermediate	Public	5-6	8361 Charlotte Highway	Indian Land	29707	Lancaster County	Lancaster 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 547-3600	1,181	72	16.4	21.2%	703 (59.5%)	140 (11.9%)	138 (11.7%)	120 (10.2%)	7 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (6.2%)								(n/a)	80.2	79.1			75.7	71.6			79.5	$10,670	$259	$128	$387	$8,867	$1,416	$10,283
Saluda Trail Middle	Public	6-8	2300 Saluda Road	Rock Hill	29730	York County	York 03	No	No	No	No	(803) 981-1800	751	54	13.9	100.0%	217 (28.9%)	425 (56.6%)	59 (7.9%)	7 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (5.5%)	42	191^st of 335 public middle schools	43.0%		48.1	151^st of 320 public middle schools	52.8%	40		45.6	55.8	56.4		29.0	35.4	43.5	41.0	$15,224	$590	$862	$1,452	$11,818	$1,954	$13,772

Frequently Asked Questions about South Middle

What district is South Middle in?

Lancaster 01

How many students attend South Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 439 students attended South Middle.

What high school do graduates of South Middle attend?

Students who attend South Middle usually go on to attend Lancaster High

Is South Middle a good school?

South Middle ranks in the bottom 16.4% of South Carolina middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of South Middle?

Students at South Middle are 50% African American, 23% White, 23% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

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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.