The 10 best public middle schools in SC for 2024. Did your child’s school make the grade?

Patrick McCreless
·4 min read

Do you know if your child is doing well in school?

What about your child’s school — is it performing well?

Niche, which collects data on K-5 schools in the U.S. to aid students and families when deciding enrollment, recently compiled a ranking of 346 public middle schools in South Carolina for 2024.

Fort Mill led the rest of the state with three middle schools in the top 10. Anderson had two schools in the top 10.

The ranking is based on analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents, using data from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche’s website states. Ranking factors include state test scores, teacher quality and school diversity.

Below is a list of the 10 best public middle schools in South Carolina, according to Niche. For the complete ranking of South Carolina public middle schools, click here.

#1 Pleasant Knoll Middle

Pleasant Knoll Middle has 932 students in grades 6-8 with a teacher-student ratio of 14 to 1, Niche states. According to state test scores, 67% of students are at least proficient in math and 73% in reading. The school also ranks first for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.

#2 Springfield Middle

Springfield Middle has 695 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 58% of students are at least proficient in math and 62% in reading. The school also ranks 10th for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.

#3 Gold Hill Middle

Gold Hills Middle has 839 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 14-1. State test scores show that 66% of students are at least proficient in math and 73% in reading. The school also ranks 12th for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.

#4 Fort Mill Middle

Fort Mill Middle has 677 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13-1. According to state test scores, 53% of students are at least proficient in math and 63% in reading. The school also ranks 20th for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.

#5 Charleston School of the Arts

Charleston School of the Arts has 1,086 students in grades 6-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14-1. According to state test scores, 73% of students are at least proficient in math and 87% in reading. The school also ranks fifth for best college prep public high schools in South Carolina.

#6 Southwood Academy of the Arts

Southwood Academy of the Arts has 380 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. State test scores show that 68% of students are at least proficient in math and 71% in reading. The school also ranks sixth for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.

#7 Sterling School

Sterling School has 727 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 79% of students are at least proficient in math and 81% in reading. The school also ranks 12th for best public elementary schools in South Carolina.

#8 Meadow Glen Middle School

Meadow Glen Middle has 1,020 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 51% of students are at least proficient in math and 65% in reading. The school is also ranked 11th for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.

#9 Oakridge Middle

Oakridge Middle has 1,186 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. According to state test scores, 60% of students are at least proficient in math and 62% in reading. The school also ranks 67th for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.

#10 McCants Middle School

McCants Middle has 584 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. State test scores indicate that 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 59% in reading. The school also ranks ninth for best public middle school teachers in South Carolina.