Summary:
Zip code 29505 in Florence, SC, is served by a single high school, South Florence High, which enrolls 1,580 students across grades 9-12 and is part of the Florence 01 school district.
For parents considering South Florence High, the school presents a mixed but generally positive picture. The most impressive headline is its graduation rate of 93.1%, which is well above the state average of 86.7%, and its dropout rate is a mere 0.6% compared to the state's 2.1%. Academically, the school is a standout in mathematics, with 90.62% of students proficient in Algebra 1, far exceeding the state average of 73.95%. However, performance in other subjects is more modest: English 1 proficiency (61.03%) is right at the state average, while English 2 (84.15%) and U.S. History (60.65%) are slightly below state averages. The school has also shown an upward trajectory in its state ranking, improving from the 47th percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 57th percentile (3 stars) in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, indicating recent positive momentum.
The most significant concern for the school is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 32.2%—notably higher than the district's 26.4% and the state's 22.3%. This is a paradox given the high graduation rate, suggesting that while enrolled students are finishing their coursework, a substantial portion of the student body is disengaged on a daily basis. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.2:1 and per-student spending of $12,574, the school has reasonable resources, but the absenteeism rate may be an area where additional engagement efforts could yield benefits. Overall, South Florence High is a solid choice for families prioritizing strong math instruction and high graduation outcomes, though they should be aware of the attendance challenges that could affect the school community.
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