Best High Schools in Zip Code 29611

Zip code 29611 in Greenville, South Carolina, is home to 2 high schools serving grades 9 through 12: Powdersville High and Carolina Academy (High), which together enroll roughly 2,000 students but deliver vastly different educational experiences.

For parents, the standout choice in this area is clearly Powdersville High. It ranks 30th out of 245 high schools statewide (88th percentile) and has been steadily improving its rank over the past three years. Its graduation rate is an exceptional 97.8%, with a dropout rate of just 0.6%. Academically, Powdersville excels across the board: 95.6% proficiency in Algebra 1, 73.6% in English 1, 95.1% in English 2, and 73.7% in U.S. History—all well above state averages. In contrast, Carolina Academy (High) ranks 216th statewide (12th percentile) and struggles significantly. Its graduation rate is just 76.6%, dropout rate is 5.6%, and proficiency rates lag far behind—74.4% in Algebra 1, 44.0% in English 1, 70.5% in English 2, and 35.8% in U.S. History. Perhaps most tellingly, chronic absenteeism at Carolina Academy is a staggering 51.8%, compared to 17.6% at Powdersville and a 22.3% state average.

Interestingly, Carolina Academy (High) actually spends more per student ($13,815 vs. $11,049) and has a better student-teacher ratio (13.9 vs. 18.6) than Powdersville High, yet it performs worse on every metric—a reminder that resources alone don't drive outcomes. Both schools belong to different districts: Anderson 01 (ranked 3rd statewide) for Powdersville and Greenville 01 (ranked 11th) for Carolina Academy. While Powdersville's math program stands out as a model of excellence, Carolina Academy's high absenteeism and year-over-year test volatility suggest that targeted interventions—especially around attendance—could be the key to improvement.