For the 2025 school year, there are 26 public schools serving 16,841 students in Lancaster County, SC (there are 3 private schools, serving 358 private students). 98% of all K-12 students in Lancaster County, SC are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Lancaster County, SC are Buford High School, Indian Land High School and North Central High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Lancaster County, SC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the South Carolina public school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Lancaster County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of South Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public school average of 53% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Lancaster County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Buford High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4290 Tabernacle Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 286-7068
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 286-7068
Grades: 9-12
| 554 students
Rank: #22.
Indian Land High School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6100 Charlotte Hwy
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 286-8470
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 286-8470
Grades: 9-12
| 1,821 students
Rank: #33.
North Central High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3000 Lockhart Road
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 432-9858
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 432-9858
Grades: 9-12
| 598 students
Rank: #44.
Harrisburg Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
10251 Harrisburg Road
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 283-8484
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 283-8484
Grades: PK-4
| 1,138 students
Rank: #55.
Indian Land Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4137 Doby's Bridge Road
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 548-2916
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 548-2916
Grades: K-4
| 1,041 students
Rank: #66.
Van Wyck Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4945 Charlotte Highway
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 313-6650
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 313-6650
Grades: PK-4
| 819 students
Rank: #77.
Buford Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1906 North Rocky River Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 286-0026
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 286-0026
Grades: PK-5
| 758 students
Rank: #88.
Andrew Jackson High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6925 Kershaw-camden Highway
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-2381
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-2381
Grades: 9-12
| 594 students
Rank: #99.
Indian Land Intermediate
(Math: 60% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8361 Charlotte Highway
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 547-3600
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 547-3600
Grades: 5-6
| 1,130 students
Rank: #1010.
Indian Land Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8361 Charlotte Highway
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 578-2500
Fort Mill, SC 29707
(803) 578-2500
Grades: 7-8
| 1,061 students
Rank: #1111.
Discovery Charter Of Lancaster
Charter School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
302 West Dunlap Street
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-8430
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-8430
Grades: K-5
| 130 students
Rank: #1212.
North Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1100 Roddey Drive
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-9918
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-9918
Grades: PK-5
| 618 students
Rank: #1313.
Kershaw Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
108 North Rollins Drive
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-6655
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-6655
Grades: PK-5
| 533 students
Rank: #1414.
Mcdonald Green Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2763 Lynwood Drive
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-7416
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-7416
Grades: PK-5
| 335 students
Rank: #1515.
Lancaster High School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
625 Woodland Drive
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-2001
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-2001
Grades: 9-12
| 1,393 students
Rank: #1616.
North Central Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
861 Keys Lane
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 432-8416
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 432-8416
Grades: PK-5
| 530 students
Rank: #1717.
Buford Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1890 North Rocky River Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-8473
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-8473
Grades: 6-8
| 368 students
Rank: #1818.
North Central Middle School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
805 Keys Lane
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 424-2740
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 424-2740
Grades: 6-8
| 415 students
Rank: #1919.
Heath Springs Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
158 Solar Road
Heath Springs, SC 29058
(803) 273-3176
Heath Springs, SC 29058
(803) 273-3176
Grades: PK-5
| 325 students
Rank: #2020.
Andrew Jackson Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6865 Kershaw Camden Highway
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-6021
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-6021
Grades: 6-8
| 458 students
Rank: #2121.
Erwin Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1477 Locustwood Avenue
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-8484
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-8484
Grades: PK-5
| 419 students
Rank: #2222.
South Middle School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1551 Billings Drive
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-8416
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-8416
Grades: 6-8
| 492 students
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
A. R. Rucker Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
422 Old Dixie Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 416-8555
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 416-8555
Grades: 6-8
| 513 students
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Brooklyn Springs Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1637 Billings Drive
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-8471
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-8471
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Rank: #2525.
Clinton Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
110 Clinton School Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-5395
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-5395
Grades: PK-5
| 405 students
Rank: n/an/a
Lancaster County School District Career Center
Vocational School
625 Normandy Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 289-4885
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 289-4885
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Lancaster County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Kershaw Correctional Institution (Closed 2005)
Alternative School
4848 Goldmine Highway
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 896-3343
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 896-3343
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Lancaster A V C High School (Closed 2006)
Vocational School
625 Normandy Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-7404
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 285-7404
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
5160 Mt. Pisgah Road
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-6791
Kershaw, SC 29067
(803) 475-6791
Grades: PK-5
| 149 students
500 Hampton Road
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-3915
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 283-3915
Grades: PK
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Lancaster County, SC?
The top ranked public schools in Lancaster County, SC include Buford High School, Indian Land High School and North Central High School.
How many public schools are located in Lancaster County?
26 public schools are located in Lancaster County.
What percentage of students in Lancaster County go to public school?
98% of all K-12 students in Lancaster County are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Lancaster County?
Lancaster County public schools minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public schools average of 53% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Lancaster County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Lancaster County include: South Middle School vs. Indian Land Middle School, A. R. Rucker Middle School vs. Buford Middle School, Andrew Jackson High School vs. Buford High School
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