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Central Business DistrictPhoto: JayeeDior12 · CC BY-SA 3.0
D
Schools in Orangeburg · Orangeburg County School District

Orangeburg’s public schools score below 89% of South Carolina districts on tests and graduation

17% of students in Orangeburg’s public schools are proficient in math, below the South Carolina average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Orangeburg, 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.

#162of 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
32%
▼ 20 pts vs SC 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
17%
▼ 24 pts vs SC 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
78%
▼ 6 pts vs SC 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.0K
▲ 19% vs SC $15.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.2
SC 14.3
Schools in town
8
5,217 students on the public path
In brief

Orangeburg’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 32% of tested students were proficient in reading and 17% in math, against 52% and 41% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

78% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $18,009 per student, against $15,090 across South Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and seven high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Felton Laboratory Charter School, St. Andrews Methodist Kindergarten (private), First Southern Methodist CHR & Wesley Christian SC (private) and Wesley Christian School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Orangeburg’s grade

D Test scoresC− Graduation

D: better than 11% of South Carolina school districts, #162 of 169 South Carolina towns. Both inputs trail the South Carolina average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

South Carolina school districts we grade (92)Better than 11%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Carolina towns with similar household incomes (137)Better than 10%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 6,074 test results and a graduating class of 787 could put Orangeburg anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Orangeburg’s students in the tested grades sat them (6,043 in math, 6,104 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C
6–8William J. Clark MiddleOrangeburg County School DistrictD
9–127 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C+

Orangeburg’s public schools are run by Orangeburg County School District. 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.

Orangeburg County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 26 schools · 10,089 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 14.2 per teacher (SC 14.3)
$18,009SC $15,090 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading32%
State average 52.1% · 6104 students tested
Math17%
State average 41% · 6043 students tested

Orangeburg vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OrangeburgDOrangeburg County

Every school in Orangeburg

15 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 Orangeburgby address
Marshall Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
625 students16:1Rate it →
Sheridan Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D−
450 students14:1Rate it →
Mellichamp Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–5
B−
144 students10:1Rate it →
William J. Clark Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
587 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving Orangeburgin other towns
Bethune-Bowman Middle/High
High · Grades 6–12 · Rowesville
C−
349 students14:1Rate it →
Branchville High
High · Grades 6–12 · Branchville
C+
317 students14:1Rate it →
North Middle/High
High · Grades 6–12 · North
D−
227 students9:1Rate it →
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High
High · Grades 6–12 · Neeses
220 students13:1Rate it →
Orangeburg Wilkinson High
High · Grades 9–12
C−
992 students17:1Rate it →
Lake Marion High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Santee
C
692 students17:1Rate it →
Edisto High
High · Grades 9–12 · Cordova
C
614 students13:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Felton Laboratory Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
B+
Charter
279 students21:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Andrews Methodist Kindergarten
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Religious
53 students21:1Rate it →
First Southern Methodist CHR & Wesley Christian SC
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
43 students7:1Rate it →
Wesley Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
42 studentsRate it →

Questions about Orangeburg’s schools

Are Orangeburg’s schools good?

On South Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Orangeburg children attend score below 89% of South Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #162 of 169 South Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 10%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Orangeburg in?

Orangeburg County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 10,089 students in 26 schools (2024–25).

Where do Orangeburg kids go to high school?

One of 7 high schools, depending on your address: Orangeburg Wilkinson High, Lake Marion High School, Edisto High, Bethune-Bowman Middle/High, Branchville High, North Middle/High and Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High.

What is Orangeburg’s graduation rate?

78% of the class of 2023 in Orangeburg County School District graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina.

How much does Orangeburg spend per student?

$18,009 in Orangeburg County School District (FY2024), against $15,090 across South Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Orangeburg?

Yes: St. Andrews Methodist Kindergarten (religious, grades PK–K, 53 students), First Southern Methodist CHR & Wesley Christian SC (religious, grades PK–12, 43 students) and Wesley Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 42 students). Orangeburg also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Orangeburg families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Orangeburg → 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.