What share of students in South Carolina are proficient in math?

In 2024, 24% of eighth graders in South Carolina public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 26% in reading, compared with 29% and 29% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in South Carolina, United States: official figures

83.8% of public high school students in South Carolina graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 16th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

83.8%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

215

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

268

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$15,060

FY2024

Public school enrollment

793,860

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

33.3%

2024

Is the graduation rate in South Carolina rising?

The four-year graduation rate in South Carolina was 83.8% in 2021-22, compared with 75% in 2011-12 and 81.1% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in South Carolina?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in South Carolina was 76.4% for economically disadvantaged students, 57.9% for students with disabilities and 78.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in South Carolina?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in South Carolina was 79.8% for Black, 80.1% for Hispanic and 86.9% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in South Carolina score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in South Carolina averaged 215 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 216 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 40% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in South Carolina score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in South Carolina averaged 254 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 259 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 36% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in South Carolina score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in South Carolina averaged 238 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC, up from 237 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 40% scored at or above Proficient and 24% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in South Carolina score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in South Carolina averaged 268 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 276 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 24% scored at or above Proficient and 45% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does South Carolina spend per student?

Public school systems in South Carolina spent $15,060 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 19th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in South Carolina going up?

Current spending per pupil in South Carolina rose from $11,140 in fiscal 2019 to $15,060 in fiscal 2024, up 35.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 7.9%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does South Carolina spend school money on?

Of the $15,060 spent per pupil in South Carolina in fiscal 2024, $8,171 went on instruction and $6,123 on support services; salaries and wages came to $8,160 per pupil and employee benefits $3,661.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in South Carolina come from?

Public school systems in South Carolina received $14.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 12.9% from the federal government, 42.5% from the state and 44.6% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does South Carolina spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in South Carolina was $13.5 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $11.2 billion was current spending and $2.0 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $10.0 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in South Carolina?

793,860 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in South Carolina in fall 2023, up 0.9% on fall 2019 (786,879) and up 6.5% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in South Carolina?

Public schools in South Carolina had 55,947 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 14.1 pupils per teacher, joint 24th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; South Carolina in fall 2019: 14.7).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in South Carolina have a college degree?

33.3% of adults aged 25 and over in South Carolina, about 1,275,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.8 percentage points on 2021 (31.5%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in South Carolina have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 13.0% of adults 25 and over in South Carolina had a graduate or professional degree and 10.4% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in South Carolina did not finish high school?

91.0% of adults 25 and over in South Carolina had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 9.0% without one; that share is 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How South Carolina compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

South Carolina ranks 34 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
31	New Jersey	85.2%
32	North Dakota	85.1%
33	Georgia	84.1%
34	South Carolina	83.8%
35	Washington	83.6%
36	Minnesota	83.6%
37	Rhode Island	83.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

South Carolina ranks 34 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
31	Ohio	76.8%
32	Maine	76.6%
33	Washington	76.5%
34	South Carolina	76.4%
35	Montana	76.4%
36	Rhode Island	75.7%
37	Vermont	75.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

South Carolina ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
22	New York	215
23	Tennessee	215
24	Wisconsin	215
25	South Carolina	215
26	Iowa	215
27	Illinois	214
28	Georgia	214

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

South Carolina ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
37	Maine	255
38	California	254
39	Arizona	254
40	South Carolina	254
41	Florida	253
42	Nevada	253
43	Mississippi	253

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

South Carolina ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
20	Pennsylvania	238
21	Virginia	238
22	Washington	238
23	South Carolina	238
24	Kentucky	238
25	Idaho	238
26	Nebraska	238

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

South Carolina ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
36	Georgia	269
37	Mississippi	269
38	Maryland	268
39	South Carolina	268
40	Oregon	268
41	Florida	267
42	Louisiana	267

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

South Carolina ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
33	Michigan	23.9%
34	Texas	23.7%
35	Georgia	23.7%
36	South Carolina	23.7%
37	Oregon	23.7%
38	Hawaii	23.2%
39	Missouri	23.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

South Carolina ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
22	New York	40.7%
23	Illinois	40.7%
24	Georgia	40.6%
25	South Carolina	40.3%
26	Kansas	40.1%
27	South Dakota	39.9%
28	Louisiana	39.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

South Carolina ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
30	West Virginia	$15,640
31	Louisiana	$15,581
32	Kansas	$15,558
33	South Carolina	$15,060
34	Nevada	$14,812
35	Kentucky	$14,596
36	Iowa	$14,369

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

South Carolina ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
15	Maine	+36.6%
16	Delaware	+36.1%
17	Virginia	+35.3%
18	South Carolina	+35.2%
19	Alabama	+35.2%
20	Illinois	+34.2%
21	Arkansas	+33.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

South Carolina ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
19	Louisiana	47.1%
20	Rhode Island	47.1%
21	Maryland	46.5%
22	South Carolina	44.6%
23	Montana	43.2%
24	Oklahoma	41.5%
25	Utah	41.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

South Carolina ranks 27 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
24	Maryland	14.3
25	Hawaii	14.2
26	Delaware	14.2
27	South Carolina	14.1
28	Iowa	14.1
29	Nebraska	13.8
30	South Dakota	13.8

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

South Carolina ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
3	Idaho	+1.7%
4	Delaware	+1.4%
5	South Dakota	+1.1%
6	South Carolina	+0.9%
7	Utah	+0.8%
8	Texas	+0.7%
9	Alabama	+0.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

South Carolina ranks 35 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
32	North Dakota	34.0%
33	Missouri	33.5%
34	Michigan	33.3%
35	South Carolina	33.3%
36	Idaho	33.0%
37	Alaska	32.8%
38	Ohio	32.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

South Carolina ranks 22 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
19	Indiana	9.4%
20	Illinois	9.3%
21	North Carolina	9.1%
22	South Carolina	9.0%
23	Massachusetts	8.6%
24	Maryland	8.6%
25	Virginia	8.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on South Carolina: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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