Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0

B⁻

Schools in Darlington · Darlington County School District

Darlington’s public schools score below 51% of South Carolina districts on tests and graduation

In Darlington, 41% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the South Carolina average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving Darlington, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within South Carolina, not nationally.

#124of 169 South Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From South Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

41%

▼ 11 pts vs SC 52%

2021–22

Math proficiency

33%

▼ 8 pts vs SC 41%

2021–22

Graduate on time

89%

▲ 5 pts vs SC 84%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$18.0K

▲ 19% vs SC $15.1K

FY2024

Students per teacher

13.7

SC 14.3 · smaller classes

Schools in town

4,320 students on the public path

In brief

Darlington’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 107 South Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Darlington’s, its schools beat 58%, higher than their 49% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 33% in math, against 52% and 41% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,954 per student, against $15,090 across South Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then three middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Darlington’s grade

C⁺ Test scoresA⁻ Graduation

B−: better than 49% of South Carolina school districts, #124 of 169 South Carolina towns. Graduation is above the South Carolina average; test scores are below it.

South Carolina school districts we grade (92)Better than 49%

Lower resultsHigher results

South Carolina towns with similar household incomes (107)Better than 58%

C⁺BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,807 test results and a graduating class of 671 could put Darlington anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Darlington’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,782 in math, 4,832 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Darlington, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in Darlington · depends on your address

St. John's Elementary

Grades PK–5 · 596 students · 15:1 students per teacher

J. L. Cain Elementary

Grades PK–5 · 533 students · 12:1 students per teacher

C⁻

The path, start to finish

PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC⁻ to C

6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC⁻ to C

9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA⁻ to A⁺

Darlington’s public schools are run by Darlington County School District, which also serves Hartsville, Lamar and Society Hill. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Darlington County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 18 schools · 8,793 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 13.7 per teacher (SC 14.3)

$17,954SC $15,090 · FY2024

B⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading41%

State average 52.1% · 4832 students tested

Math33%

State average 41% · 4782 students tested

Darlington vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the South Carolina towns that share Darlington’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Darlington	B⁻	Darlington County

Every school in Darlington

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with South Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Darlingtonby address

St. John's Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5

596 students15:1Rate it →

J. L. Cain Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5

C⁻

533 students12:1Rate it →

Darlington High

High · Grades 9–12

A⁻

965 students14:1Rate it →

Mayo High For Math Science & Technology

High · Grades 9–12

A⁺

309 students13:1Rate it →

Also serving Darlingtonin other towns

Darlington Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8

C⁻

888 students15:1Rate it →

Hartsville Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hartsville

C⁻

801 students13:1Rate it →

Spaulding Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lamar

228 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Darlington’s schools

Are Darlington’s schools good?

On South Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Darlington children attend score below 51% of South Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #124 of 169 South Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 58%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Darlington in?

Darlington County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,793 students in 18 schools (2024–25).

Where do Darlington kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Darlington High and Mayo High For Math Science & Technology.

What is Darlington’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Darlington County School District graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina.

How much does Darlington spend per student?

$17,954 in Darlington County School District (FY2024), against $15,090 across South Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Darlington families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Darlington → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within South Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.