Best High Schools in Zip Code 29944

Zip code 29944 is home to a single public high school, Hampton County High School, which serves grades 9-12 in Varnville, South Carolina, and is part of the Hampton school district.

For parents considering this area, the most important takeaway is that Hampton County High School is a mid-sized school with 617 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17.6:1. The school currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom quintile of South Carolina high schools, though its position has fluctuated slightly over the past three years. Academically, the school shows a striking split: students perform very close to the state average in English 2 (82.6% proficient vs. 83.8% statewide) and Algebra 1 (73.9% vs. 74.0%), but lag far behind in English 1 (35.4% vs. 60.9%) and U.S. History (29.7% vs. 62.6%). This suggests strong instruction in some departments but significant gaps in others. The graduation rate is 83.6%, slightly below the state's 86.7%, and the dropout rate is 2.6% versus 2.1% statewide.

One of the most concerning metrics is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 32.0%—nearly 10 points higher than both the district and state averages of about 22-23%. This likely contributes to the academic struggles, as students missing significant school days are less likely to master the material. On a positive note, per-student spending is a healthy $15,914, and the school's performance in English 2 and Algebra 1 proves that its students can achieve at state-average levels when the right supports are in place. The sharp decline in U.S. History proficiency (from 37.6% to 29.7% in one year) is a red flag that warrants attention. Overall, Hampton County High School offers some bright spots but faces real challenges in attendance and several core subjects that parents should investigate further.