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Youth Leadership Academy

Q: Is Youth Leadership Academy a good school?

Youth Leadership Academy ranks 43 rd of 341 South Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 6-8

43^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 341 South Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 87% of South Carolina middle schools

Summary

Youth Leadership Academy is a public charter middle school in Pickens, SC, serving 290 students in grades 6 through 8, and it consistently ranks among the top middle schools in the state—currently 41st out of 335 schools, placing it in the 88th percentile with a 4-star rating.

For parents, the most striking thing about Youth Leadership Academy is how well it serves all students, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school earns a 5-star rating for its low-income students, ranking in the 92nd percentile statewide—a remarkable achievement that shows socioeconomic status doesn't determine success here. Academically, the school shines brightest in English Language Arts and Science, with proficiency rates 15–25 points above state averages. In 6th grade, 72% of students are proficient in science versus 52% statewide, and ELA proficiency hovers around 73% across all grades. Math scores are also strong (55–60% proficient versus 40–44% statewide), and an impressive 100% of students pass Algebra 1—far above the state average of 74%. The school also boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.1%, dramatically lower than nearby Pickens Middle (31.2%) and Liberty Middle (33.1%), which suggests a strong culture of attendance and family engagement.

Compared to other high-performing schools in the region, Youth Leadership Academy holds its own. It matches Powdersville Middle in 6th-grade math and nearly ties R. C. Edwards Middle in overall rank, despite being a much smaller charter school. What's particularly impressive is the efficiency: YLA spends about $12,389 per student, which is $3,000–$4,000 less than lower-performing schools like Tanglewood Middle and Dacusville Middle, yet achieves far better results. The school's decade-long track record of never ranking below the 83rd percentile shows this isn't a fluke—it's a consistently excellent option for families seeking a rigorous, supportive middle school experience in the upstate area.

290

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,389

Per pupil spending ?

17%

Free/discounted lunch ?

698 Concord Church Road
Pickens, SC 29671

(864) 898-4511

District: School Public Charter School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.9%

Hispanic:

2.1%

Two or more races:

2.1%

See top rated South Carolina middle schools

Compare Youth Leadership Academy to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2016 → 87th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (66% vs 51% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of South Carolina middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg50%

South Carolina avg51%

43^rd of 341

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 13%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From top 6% (2016) to top 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Middle Schools in the School Public Charter School District

31^st of 75School Public Charter School District 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	85.4	43 of 341	87.4%	★★★★☆
2025	85.5	40 of 321	87.5%	★★★★☆
2024	81.1	53 of 322	83.5%	★★★★☆
2023	88.8	30 of 325	90.8%	★★★★★
2022	92.4	19 of 310	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	95.1	17 of 311	94.5%	★★★★★
2019	88.3	33 of 315	89.5%	★★★★☆
2018	91.7	22 of 303	92.7%	★★★★★
2017	88.4	28 of 317	91.2%	★★★★★
2016	92.5	18 of 303	94.1%	★★★★★
2015	89.9	23 of 301	92.4%	★★★★★
2014	94.0	9 of 291	96.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.0	43 of 310	86.1%	★★★★☆
2025	85.1	36 of 295	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	75.3	59 of 293	79.9%	★★★★☆
2023	86.3	36 of 299	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	91.8	19 of 290	93.4%	★★★★★
2021	95.3	13 of 279	95.3%	★★★★★
2019	82.4	48 of 296	83.8%	★★★★☆
2018	95.5	12 of 281	95.7%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	61.4	94 of 184	48.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	75.9	29 of 185	84.3%	★★★★☆
2022	62.4	77 of 182	57.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.4	27 of 325	91.7%	★★★★★
2025	87.9	22 of 308	92.9%	★★★★★
2024	77.5	45 of 304	85.2%	★★★★☆
2023	92.7	16 of 313	94.9%	★★★★★
2022	91.9	15 of 300	95.0%	★★★★★
2021	97.4	6 of 288	97.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.3	41 of 310	86.8%	★★★★☆
2025	84.6	39 of 298	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	85.2	41 of 292	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	89.2	27 of 303	91.1%	★★★★★
2022	91.6	23 of 292	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	95.5	14 of 279	95.0%	★★★★★
2019	95.1	15 of 296	94.9%	★★★★★
2018	94.2	17 of 284	94.0%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.3	90 of 271	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.3	80 of 259	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.5	96 of 256	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.3	64 of 260	75.4%	★★★★☆
2022	79.3	44 of 249	82.3%	★★★★☆
2021	82.2	35 of 244	85.7%	★★★★☆
2019	68.6	83 of 258	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	77.0	46 of 250	81.6%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)92nd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)87th percentile~ school

Female (2026)86th percentile~ school

White (2026)67th percentile-21 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2024)49th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts73%+15 vs state

Science72%+20 vs state

Mathematics58%+16 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, August 4, 2014

Wonderful environment with very caring teachers! They push our students to be the best that they can. Close Quote

Schools Near Youth Leadership Academy

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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 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	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
Youth Leadership Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	698 Concord Church Road	Pickens	29671	Pickens County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(864) 898-4511	290	19	15.2	17.0%	278 (95.9%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	85.4	43^rd of 341 public middle schools	87.4%		85.5	40^th of 321 public middle schools	87.5%	3	72.0	73.0	73.7	60.0	59.0	55.6	72.0	$12,389	$60	$97	$157	$198	$12,034	$12,232
Summit Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	698 Concord Church Road	Pickens	29671	Pickens County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(864) 898-4511	59	6	9.8		51 (86.4%)	1 (1.7%)	3 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.8%)	56.9	131^st of 341 public middle schools	61.6%					(n/a)	71.5	57.2	60.5	50.0	30.6	25.6	66.6
Pickens Middle	Public	6-8	140 Torch Lane	Pickens	29671	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-4100	566	40	14.1	78.3%	454 (80.2%)	28 (4.9%)	55 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.9%)	57.1	130^th of 341 public middle schools	61.9%		44.6	166^th of 321 public middle schools	48.3%	36	60.3	55.4	56.7	47.5	37.1	46.6	55.4	$14,353	$971	$582	$1,553	$11,189	$1,611	$12,800
Liberty Middle	Public	6-8	125 Falcon Lane	Liberty	29657	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-3400	458	35	13.2	78.9%	371 (81.0%)	15 (3.3%)	45 (9.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.5%)	56.6	133^rd of 341 public middle schools	61.0%		57	118^th of 321 public middle schools	63.2%	15	49.0	61.2	60.9	44.4	48.8	38.7	55.2	$14,337	$901	$763	$1,663	$11,100	$1,574	$12,673
Richard H. Gettys Middle	Public	6-8	510 South Pendleton Street	Easley	29640	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-3900	1,217	83	14.6	68.6%	723 (59.4%)	151 (12.4%)	225 (18.5%)	16 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	99 (8.1%)	63.6	105^th of 341 public middle schools	69.2%		52.1	134^th of 321 public middle schools	58.3%	29	63.8	62.6	64.4	41.9	42.0	40.0	65.7	$10,709	$682	$517	$1,199	$8,329	$1,181	$9,510
R. C. Edwards Middle	Public	6-8	1157 Madden Bridge Road	Central	29630	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-4200	835	52	16.2	46.7%	613 (73.4%)	74 (8.9%)	57 (6.8%)	27 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (7.7%)	86	42^nd of 341 public middle schools	87.7%		84.7	43^rd of 321 public middle schools	86.6%	1	66.3	75.6	77.8	58.8	57.4	64.6	69.1	$11,161	$430	$496	$926	$9,055	$1,180	$10,235
Dacusville Middle	Public	6-8	899 Thomas Mill Road	Easley	29640	Pickens County	Pickens 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 397-3525	356	25	14.2	73.6%	280 (78.7%)	9 (2.5%)	48 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.3%)	47.4	166^th of 341 public middle schools	51.3%		63.4	102^nd of 321 public middle schools	68.2%	64	51.8	57.6	51.2	32.4	28.2	43.9	63.4	$16,338	$893	$562	$1,454	$13,083	$1,801	$14,884
Riverside Middle	Public	7-8	458 Riverside Street	Pendleton	29670	Anderson County	Anderson 04	No	No	No	No	(864) 403-2200	453	32	14.1	64.1%	331 (73.1%)	63 (13.9%)	33 (7.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.1%)	87.5	39^th of 341 public middle schools	88.6%		87.3	37^th of 321 public middle schools	88.5%	2		73.0	71.1		64.6	66.9		$16,037	$687	$886	$1,573	$12,392	$2,072	$14,463
Wren Middle	Public	6-8	1010 Wren School Road	Piedmont	29673	Greenville County	Anderson 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 850-5930	910	58	15.7	46.4%	694 (76.3%)	77 (8.5%)	80 (8.8%)	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (5.5%)	84.3	44^th of 341 public middle schools	87.1%		88.5	34^th of 321 public middle schools	89.4%	10	71.1	68.4	74.1	55.0	58.1	69.6	66.4	$10,613	$694	$420	$1,114	$8,434	$1,065	$9,499
Powdersville Middle	Public	6-8	135 Hood Road	Greenville	29611	Greenville County	Anderson 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 269-1821	801	54	14.8	44.2%	575 (71.8%)	64 (8.0%)	91 (11.4%)	25 (3.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (5.5%)	89.2	33^rd of 341 public middle schools	90.3%		90.2	28^th of 321 public middle schools	91.3%	5	73.0	83.0	70.2	60.0	73.9	68.7	67.4	$11,326	$890	$464	$1,354	$8,880	$1,093	$9,973

Frequently Asked Questions about Youth Leadership Academy

Is Youth Leadership Academy a good school?

Youth Leadership Academy ranks 43^rd of 341 South Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Youth Leadership Academy?

Students at Youth Leadership Academy are 96% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Youth Leadership Academy in?

School Public Charter School District

How many students attend Youth Leadership Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 290 students attended Youth Leadership Academy.

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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.