Summary:
Zip code 29010, located in the Bishopville, SC area, is served by a single high school, Lee Central High, which enrolls 402 students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the Lee 01 school district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Lee Central High faces significant academic challenges despite receiving substantial financial resources. The school ranks in the bottom quartile statewide, with a 14th percentile ranking and a 1-star rating for the 2025-2026 school year. While the graduation rate of 85.7% is close to the state average, the dropout rate of 4.5% is more than double the state's 2.1%. The most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism, which affects 44.8% of students—nearly double the district average and more than double the state average. This likely contributes to low test scores, particularly in U.S. History, where only about 29-34% of students are proficient compared to a state average above 61%. English 1 proficiency is also low at 43%, while English 2 performance is comparatively stronger at 77-83%.
Interestingly, the school spends a very high $26,157 per student and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, indicating small class sizes and ample resources. However, these investments have not translated into strong academic outcomes, suggesting that factors beyond funding—such as attendance, student engagement, and community support—are critical. There are slight signs of improvement, as the school's ranking rose from the 8th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 17th percentile in 2024-2025, though it slipped back to the 14th percentile in 2025-2026. For parents, this means the school offers a supportive environment with small classes, but addressing the absenteeism crisis and boosting performance in core subjects like history and English 1 will be essential for student success.
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