Summary:
Zip code 29020, encompassing the Camden, SC area, is home to just one public high school, Camden High, which serves grades 9 through 12 within the Kershaw 01 school district.
For parents considering this area, Camden High is a mid-sized school with about 1,136 students and a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. The school has consistently earned a 2-star rating from the state, though its statewide percentile ranking has been somewhat volatile, moving from the 48th percentile in 2023-2024, down to the 31st in 2024-2025, and back up to the 42nd in 2025-2026. Academically, the school shows a clear strength in English 2, where 79.9% of students scored proficient, which is close to the state average. There is also encouraging news in math, as Algebra 1 proficiency jumped significantly from 45.3% to 53.1% in one year, narrowing the gap with the state. However, U.S. History proficiency declined by over 5 points to 55.7%, and the school trails state averages in most subjects. The graduation rate of 83.9% is slightly above the district's 82.6% but below the state's 86.7%, and the dropout rate of 2.9% is higher than the state's 2.1%.
On a positive note, chronic absenteeism at Camden High (19.2%) is better than both the district (21.0%) and state (22.3%) averages, indicating students are attending school regularly. This suggests that attendance is not the main barrier to higher test scores. The school is a relative bright spot within its district, outperforming it in graduation rate and absenteeism, but it faces challenges competing statewide. While the Kershaw 01 district ranks in the top third of South Carolina districts, Camden High itself sits in the middle of the pack statewide. The school appears to be making progress in math while needing targeted support in history and student retention, making it a school with both promising improvements and clear areas for growth.
Thank you for your feedback!