Summary:
Zip code 29728 in Pageland, SC, is served by a single high school, Central High, which enrolls 657 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Chesterfield 01 school district.
For parents considering this area, Central High faces significant academic challenges. The school ranks in the 17th percentile statewide (203 out of 245 schools), and its proficiency rates on state exams are well below the South Carolina averages across all subjects. The most concerning gap is in Algebra 1, where only 26.9% of students are proficient compared to the state average of 64.6%. English 2 shows the school's relative strength at 73.5% proficiency, though this still trails the state's 83.8%. The graduation rate of 77.3% is nearly 10 points below the state average, and chronic absenteeism affects 31.4% of students—about one in three—compared to 22.3% statewide. These attendance issues likely contribute to the lower test scores and graduation outcomes.
There are some positive notes. The dropout rate of 1.4% is actually better than both the district (1.7%) and state (2.1%) averages, suggesting students are staying enrolled even if they struggle academically. Per-student spending is $12,551 with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio, which is reasonable. However, the school's state ranking has remained stagnant at the 17th percentile for three consecutive years, indicating a persistent performance plateau. The combination of high absenteeism, weak math proficiency, and a graduation rate below 80% suggests that Central High would benefit from targeted interventions in mathematics and attendance support. Parents should be aware that while the school maintains students through to graduation attempts, the academic outcomes lag significantly behind state benchmarks, making it important to explore supplemental support or alternative options if high achievement is a priority.
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