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Ashley-Willis HouseAshley-Willis House · Photo: Bill Fitzpatrick · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Williston · Barnwell County School District

Williston’s public schools score below 66% of South Carolina districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 32% of Williston’s students scored proficient, below the South Carolina average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Williston, 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.

#138of 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
32%
▼ 9 pts vs SC 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 0–4 pts vs SC 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.3K
▲ 8% vs SC $15.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.5
SC 14.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
637 students on the public path
In brief

Williston’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 146 South Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Williston’s, its schools beat 42%, higher than their 34% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

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

Graduation

80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina (the state reports Williston’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $16,344 per student in FY2024, against $15,090 across South Carolina. 29% of its revenue that year was federal (South Carolina 13%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Williston-Elko Middle, then Williston-Elko High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Winfield Heights Christian Kindergarten (private) is 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 Williston’s grade

C+ Test scoresC Graduation

C: better than 34% of South Carolina school districts, #138 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 34%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Carolina towns with similar household incomes (146)Better than 42%
C−B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,060 test results and a graduating class of 148 could put Williston anywhere from C− to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Williston’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,054 in math, 1,067 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Kelly Edwards ElementaryBarnwell County School DistrictNo scores
6–8Williston-Elko MiddleBarnwell County School DistrictNo scores
9–12Williston-Elko HighBarnwell County School DistrictNo scores

Williston’s public schools are run by Barnwell County School District, which also serves Barnwell, Blackville, Elko and Hilda and others. 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.

Barnwell County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 3,123 students · 13.5 per teacher (SC 14.3)
$16,344SC $15,090 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 52.1% · 1067 students tested
Math32%
State average 41% · 1054 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 29% of the Barnwell County district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 13% across South Carolina, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Williston vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WillistonCBarnwell County

Every school in Williston

4 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 Willistonby address
Kelly Edwards Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
296 students13:1Rate it →
Williston-Elko Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
149 students10:1Rate it →
Williston-Elko High
High · Grades 9–12
192 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Winfield Heights Christian Kindergarten
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Religious
35 students35:1Rate it →

Questions about Williston’s schools

Are Williston’s schools good?

On South Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Williston children attend score below 66% of South Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #138 of 169 South Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 42%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Williston in?

Barnwell County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,123 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Williston kids go to high school?

Williston-Elko High, with 192 students.

What is Williston’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Barnwell County School District graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina.

How much does Williston spend per student?

$16,344 in Barnwell County School District (FY2024), against $15,090 across South Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Williston?

Yes: Winfield Heights Christian Kindergarten (religious, grades PK–K, 35 students).

Parents talk

What Williston families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Williston → 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.