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Pelion High

Q: Is Pelion High a good school?

Pelion High ranks 155 th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

155^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 248 South Carolina High Schools

Better than 38% of South Carolina high schools

Summary

Pelion High serves approximately 718 students in grades 9-12 in the rural town of Pelion, South Carolina, as part of the Lexington 01 school district.

Pelion High has shown meaningful improvement over the past few years, climbing from a very low ranking in 2021-2022 to its current position in the 37th percentile statewide. The school now ranks 154th out of 245 South Carolina high schools, a significant jump from being near the bottom just a few years ago. However, the school faces a serious challenge with chronic absenteeism—nearly half of students (48.1%) are chronically absent, which is more than double the district average of 22.7% and far higher than nearby Gilbert High (26.1%) or Lexington High (26.2%). This attendance crisis likely contributes to other struggles, including a graduation rate of 80.6% that trails the district average by 8.5 points and a dropout rate nearly three times the district rate. The school also shows a notable gap in English 1 proficiency (51.1%) compared to the district (72.0%), though students who persist to English 2 perform much better (79.2%).

On a positive note, Pelion High invests heavily in its students, spending $17,799 per student—more than any other school in the district—and maintains an excellent student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1. The school also demonstrates relative strength with Hispanic students, who rank in the 48th percentile statewide, and has shown improvement in U.S. History proficiency. When compared to White Knoll High, the most similar school in the district, Pelion has comparable graduation rates and English 1 scores, but significantly worse attendance and dropout numbers. The school appears to be at a turning point—with continued focus on attendance and early high school literacy support, it has the resources and momentum to build on its recent progress.

718

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,481

Per pupil spending ?

67.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2023-24) ?

≥ 96%

Students (all grades) with required immunizations (2025-26)

600 Lydia Drive
Pelion, SC 29123

(803) 821-2200

District: Lexington 01

Feeder schools for Pelion High:

Elementary:	Forts Pond Elementary
	Pelion Elementary
Middle:	Pelion Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.8%

Hispanic:

18.9%

African American:

6.3%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

Compare Pelion High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 8th percentile in 2022 → 38th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 38th (2026) from a 8th-percentile low (2022)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (63% vs 69% meeting standards)

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

!Near the bottom of Lexington 01's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg77%

South Carolina avg69%

155^th of 248

South Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From top 45% (2016) to bottom 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5High Schools in the Lexington 01

14^th of 75Lexington 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	38.4	155 of 248	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.0	161 of 240	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.1	158 of 243	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.7	201 of 237	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	9.6	208 of 226	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.4	200 of 227	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.5	130 of 225	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.3	98 of 216	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	39.0	110 of 223	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	46.0	104 of 231	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	42.5	117 of 232	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	31.0	151 of 210	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.2	155 of 203	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	27.3	157 of 202	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	47.7	110 of 199	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	52.0	109 of 199	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	61.2	80 of 188	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	71.7	53 of 185	71.4%	★★★★☆
2007	65.1	67 of 191	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	67.2	57 of 191	70.2%	★★★★☆
2005	70.5	48 of 187	74.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.5	120 of 136	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.2	101 of 140	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.9	84 of 147	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.7	120 of 141	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.8	99 of 139	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.8	90 of 115	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.3	82 of 143	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.3	76 of 137	44.5%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	11.1	58 of 61	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.3	148 of 229	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.7	136 of 229	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.5	134 of 231	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	13.5	197 of 223	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	9.7	204 of 220	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.0	186 of 213	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.7	129 of 213	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.9	114 of 210	45.7%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	63.5	72 of 158	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.5	65 of 124	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.5	66 of 122	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.6	83 of 122	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	6.7	115 of 119	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.5	105 of 108	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.3	79 of 93	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.4	73 of 86	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.5	145 of 241	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.3	158 of 230	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.0	171 of 235	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.5	195 of 226	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.1	204 of 220	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.8	186 of 213	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.5	110 of 217	49.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.1	89 of 214	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.0	154 of 233	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.2	158 of 228	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.6	177 of 234	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.2	187 of 229	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.5	205 of 224	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.0	195 of 215	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	35.4	125 of 218	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.4	95 of 213	55.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	12.7	187 of 203	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.4	177 of 200	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.9	189 of 202	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.0	193 of 197	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.7	192 of 192	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	1.6	186 of 189	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.5	161 of 191	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.7	146 of 185	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2024)54th percentile+19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)48th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile~ school

Female (2026)35th percentile~ school

Male (2026)34th percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2026)12th percentile-26 vs school

White (2026)8th percentile-30 vs school

English Language Learner (2022)5th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English 279%-5 vs state

U.S. History and the Constitution56%-7 vs state

Biology 1/Applied Biology 251%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pelion High

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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 Vaccination 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)	EOCEP Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (2026)	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution (2026)	EOCEP English 2 (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th 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	EOCEP Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 End of Course	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course	EOCEP English 2 End of Course	Vaccination: Students (all grades) with required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	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
Pelion High	Public	9-12	600 Lydia Drive	Pelion	29123	Lexington County	Lexington 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 821-2200	718	63	11.4	67.6%	487 (67.8%)	45 (6.3%)	136 (18.9%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.3%)	38.4	155^th of 248 public high schools	37.5%		32	161^st of 240 public high schools	32.9%	6									51.1	55.9	79.2	≥ 96%		$19,481	$1,045	$797	$1,842	$15,335	$2,304	$17,639
Swansea High	Public	9-12	500 East First Street	Swansea	29160	Lexington County	Lexington 04	No	No	No	No	(803) 490-7007	695	52	13.3	—	360 (51.8%)	133 (19.1%)	167 (24.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.9%)	3 (0.4%)	19 (2.7%)	36.5	157^th of 248 public high schools	36.7%		17.9	201^st of 240 public high schools	16.3%	44								76.2	46.5	39.3	78.3	≥ 96%		$15,648	$524	$916	$1,441	$11,693	$2,514	$14,207
Wagener-Salley High	Public	9-12	326 Seivern Road	Wagener	29164	Aiken County	Aiken 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 564-1100	245	26	9.4	—	102 (41.6%)	97 (39.6%)	19 (7.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (10.2%)	31.8	173^rd of 248 public high schools	30.2%		19.6	195^th of 240 public high schools	18.8%	22									43.4	41.5	83.8	≥ 96%		$22,644	$545	$814	$1,359	$18,644	$2,641	$21,285
White Knoll High	Public	9-12	5643 Platt Springs Road	Lexington	29073	Lexington County	Lexington 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 821-5200	2,025	132	15.3	51.2%	991 (48.9%)	555 (27.4%)	311 (15.4%)	24 (1.2%)	9 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	133 (6.6%)	44.4	141^st of 248 public high schools	43.1%		34.3	154^th of 240 public high schools	35.8%	13								29.2	56.2	60.6	78.9	≥ 96%		$14,639	$514	$369	$883	$11,984	$1,773	$13,757
Gilbert High	Public	9-12	840 Main Street	Gilbert	29054	Lexington County	Lexington 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 821-1900	1,138	78	14.6	42.7%	830 (72.9%)	106 (9.3%)	155 (13.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (3.9%)	75.9	48^th of 248 public high schools	80.6%		56.9	84^th of 240 public high schools	65.0%	36									90.2	70.6	86.8	≥ 96%		$16,446	$599	$422	$1,020	$13,437	$1,989	$15,426
North Middle/High	Public	6-12	692 Cromer Avenue	North	29112	Orangeburg County	Orangeburg	No	No	No	No	(803) 247-2541	227	25	9.1	—	65 (28.6%)	147 (64.8%)	6 (2.6%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.1%)	44.2	142^nd of 248 public high schools	42.7%		54.5	90^th of 240 public high schools	62.5%	52	58.8	48.5	42.9	29.1	25.9	57.5	35.3		58.8	50.0	81.8	≥ 96%		$25,465	$1,980	$1,769	$3,750	$18,976	$2,740	$21,716
Midlands Middle College	Public, Charter	10-12	1260 Lexington Drive	West Columbia	29170	Lexington County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 822-3333	115	7	17.4	42.5%	68 (59.1%)	25 (21.7%)	15 (13.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.2%)	30.8	176^th of 248 public high schools	29.0%					(n/a)										54.8	72.7	≥ 96%		$11,615	$157	$44	$200	$9,522	$1,892	$11,414
Lexington High	Public	9-12	2463 Augusta Highway	Lexington	29072	Lexington County	Lexington 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 821-1300	2,536	164	15.5	25.7%	1,834 (72.3%)	303 (11.9%)	208 (8.2%)	84 (3.3%)	5 (0.2%)	7 (0.3%)	95 (3.7%)	86	28^th of 248 public high schools	88.7%		77.3	30^th of 240 public high schools	87.5%	2								38.7	86.1	81.0	91.5	≥ 96%		$13,363	$619	$321	$939	$10,734	$1,690	$12,424
Lexington Technology Center	Public	9-12	2421 Augusta Highway	Lexington	29072	Lexington County	Lexington 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 821-3000	0	37	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Airport High	Public	9-12	1315 Boston Avenue	West Columbia	29170	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 822-5600	1,272	73	17.4	85.1%	453 (35.6%)	440 (34.6%)	308 (24.2%)	16 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	52 (4.1%)	35.8	159^th of 248 public high schools	35.9%		34.2	155^th of 240 public high schools	35.4%	4								40.0	72.1	42.1	78.3	≥ 96%		$15,702	$365	$1,098	$1,463	$11,780	$2,458	$14,238

Frequently Asked Questions about Pelion High

What district is Pelion High in?

Lexington 01

What is the racial makeup of Pelion High?

Students at Pelion High are 68% White, 19% Hispanic, 6% African American, 6% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Pelion High?

Pelion High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Forts Pond Elementary
Elementary : Pelion Elementary
Middle : Pelion Middle

How many students attend Pelion High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 718 students attended Pelion High.

Is Pelion High a good school?

Pelion High ranks 155^th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Pelion High!

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 20, 2026

2025–26 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

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

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

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.