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Historic Downtown Lake CityPhoto: Evanoco · CC BY-SA 4.0
D
Schools in Lake City · Florence School District 3

Lake City’s public schools score below 86% of South Carolina districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Lake City’s districts is 22%, below the South Carolina average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Lake City, 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.

#159of 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
36%
▼ 16 pts vs SC 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
22%
▼ 19 pts vs SC 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
72%
▼ 12 pts vs SC 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.2K
▲ 7% vs SC $15.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.3
SC 14.3
Schools in town
5
1,827 students on the public path
In brief

Lake City’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 105 South Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lake City’s, its schools beat 26%, higher than their 14% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 22% in math, against 52% and 41% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

72% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,193 per student, against $15,090 across South Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and two middle schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is down 15% since 2020–21. 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 Lake City’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 14% of South Carolina school districts, #159 of 169 South Carolina towns. Both inputs trail the South Carolina average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

South Carolina school districts we grade (92)Better than 14%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Carolina towns with similar household incomes (105)Better than 26%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,579 test results and a graduating class of 229 could put Lake City anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Lake City’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,596 in math, 1,562 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2Lake City Early Childhood CenterFlorence School District 3No scores
3–6Main Street ElementaryFlorence School District 3D−
7–122 schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C

Lake City’s public schools are run by Florence School District 3, which also serves Coward, Olanta and Scranton. 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.

Florence School District 3Grades PK–12 · 8 schools · 2,767 students, down 15% since 2020–21 · 14.3 per teacher (SC 14.3)
$16,193SC $15,090 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 52.1% · 1562 students tested
Math22%
State average 41% · 1596 students tested

Lake City vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Lake CityDFlorence School District 3

Every school in Lake City

5 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 Lake Cityby address
Lake City Early Childhood Center
Elementary · Grades PK–2
357 students15:1Rate it →
Main Street Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–6
D−
318 students19:1Rate it →
J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet
High · Grades 7–12
C
385 students14:1Rate it →
Ronald E. McNair Junior High
Middle · Grades 7–8
D−
275 students16:1Rate it →
Lake City High
High · Grades 9–12
C+
492 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Lake City’s schools

Are Lake City’s schools good?

On South Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lake City children attend score below 86% of South Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #159 of 169 South Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 26%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lake City in?

Florence School District 3, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,767 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

What is Lake City’s graduation rate?

72% of the class of 2023 in Florence School District 3 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina.

How much does Lake City spend per student?

$16,193 in Florence School District 3 (FY2024), against $15,090 across South Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lake City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lake City → 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.