Summary:
Zip code 29061 is home to just one public high school, Lower Richland High, which serves grades 9 through 12 in the Hopkins, SC area as part of the Richland 01 school district.
For parents considering this area, Lower Richland High is a large school with about 1,218 students and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.5 to 1. The school spends a substantial $17,494 per student, yet its overall academic performance lags significantly behind district and state averages. The school ranks in the bottom 8th percentile statewide (225th out of 245 schools), and its graduation rate of 81.6% is below the district's 84.1% and the state's 86.7%. The dropout rate of 4.0% is nearly double the state average of 2.1%. Perhaps most concerning is the chronic absenteeism rate of 32.9%, meaning nearly one in three students misses significant instructional time—far exceeding the district (26.7%) and state (22.3%) averages.
Academically, the school shows a stark contrast between subjects. In 2024-2025, English 2 proficiency was a bright spot at 86.43%, actually matching the state average, but this dropped to 77.77% in 2025-2026, falling below the state's 83.79%. Meanwhile, English 1 proficiency sits at just 29.3% and U.S. History at 29.82%—both less than half the state averages. Algebra 1 proficiency (66.55%) is also below the state's 73.95%. This pattern suggests students struggle with foundational 9th-grade skills, contributing to the "leaky pipeline" where low early proficiency, high absenteeism, and a higher dropout rate combine to hold back graduation outcomes. Despite high per-student spending, the school's challenges appear deeply tied to attendance and early academic support rather than a lack of resources.
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