According to Private School Review, South Carolina is home to 404 different private schools that educate close to 70,000 students.
South Carolina has the 29th-largest school system among the 50 states thanks to an additional 1,280 public schools that accommodate an additional 766,000 or more kids. Although there are far more public schools than private schools in South Carolina, both types of institutions are of the highest caliber.
Only 11 students are taught on average at South Carolina’s private schools. On the other side, the state’s public schools have an average student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1, which is somewhat in line with the national average.
With so many excellent high school alternatives available, many kids and their families find the process of whittling down all of the options into a thoughtful, succinct list of a few top schools to be overwhelming and stressful.
On the plus side, if it describes you, we are available to reduce your stress.
Here, you can find details about the ten Best High Schools in South Carolina. All of the high schools on the list below were selected from various rankings of those schools that were released by reputable magazines like US News and World Report, Niche, and others.
The 10 Best High Schools in South Carolina
Table of Contents
Hammond School (Columbia, SC)
The Hammond School, a small but prestigious independent school for kids in pre-K through senior year of high school, is ranked by Niche as the third-best private high school in South Carolina.
One of the school’s primary goals, in addition to preparing students for college, is arts integration.
The school is steadfast in its commitment to supporting the basic moral principles connected to the Judeo-Christian church. The fact that Hammond accepts pupils from all religions into their institution should not be overlooked, though.
Most students in the middle and upper levels at Hammond School participate in at least one sport, making it one of the schools with the most robust athletic programs in the state.
Additionally, the school has had the distinction of twice winning the SCISA President’s Cup Award.
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia, SC)
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School is an independent private school with enrollment options for students in grades two through twelve in Columbia, South Carolina.
Numerous initiatives at the school, including Math Buddies, Biology Buddies, and Reading Buddies, enable both younger and older pupils to gain from group learning activities.
These programs allow older students to benefit from teaching and mentoring others while also helping the younger students.
Heathwood Hall produces a special learning environment that has been shown to be extremely effective through the high level of interaction between kids of all ages.
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School is listed by Niche as the #2 private high school and the #2 best private K–12 school in South Carolina.
Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston, SC)
In Charleston, South Carolina, Academic Magnet High School is a public institution that educates students in grades nine through twelve.
Academic Magnet High School is ranked as the second-best public high school in the country by US News and World Report. In fact, since 2019, AMHS has consistently rated #1 or second in the nation according to the newspaper.
Students at AMHS face a range of academic challenges. For one, before graduating from the school, every student is required to pass a minimum of four AP courses.
All students must do at least 90 hours of community service during their studies, which is another unusual requirement for graduation.
Through these standards, AMHS teaches pupils about being good citizens of the world in addition to academic courses.
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Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville, SC)
Christ Church Episcopal School, a private institution with over 1,200 students in kindergarten through senior year, is a great option for a secondary school.
In fact, a 2023 ranking released by Niche places it first among the finest private high schools in South Carolina. In terms of top private K–12 schools and top Christian high schools, Christ Church Episcopal School is ranked first in the state.
Out of the 87 private high schools in the state, the school is ranked sixth in terms of preparing pupils for college. The institution is ranked fourth out of 93 schools when it comes to academic program offers in STEM subjects.
Christ Church Episcopal School has a student-teacher ratio of just 10:1, and all of its graduates continue on to four-year colleges.
South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (Hartsville, SC)
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, a public boarding school for eleventh and twelfth graders, is situated in Hartsville, South Carolina.
Although the school’s name suggests that it places a strong emphasis on STEM education, a wide range of humanities courses are also offered.
It is one of the few public residential schools of its kind, giving the region’s top kids the chance to acquire an excellent education without having to fork out the money for private school tuition.
The South Carolina GSSM is the greatest public high school in the state, according to Niche’s 2023 ranked list, and it holds the top ranking. There are 261 pupils enrolled in the school overall, with about the same numbers in each grade.
D.W. Daniel High School (Central, SC)
D. W. Daniel High School, a reputable public high school that was established in 1995, is a member of the Pickens County School System.
The school, which is open to ninth through twelfth graders, serves not just pupils from Central but also those who live in nearby Six Mile and Clemson.
D. W. Daniel is ranked as South Carolina’s seventh-best public high school by Niche. In addition to a variety of AP courses in numerous topics, the school offers a wide selection of honors courses in every academic field offered.
Daniel High School is well-known among residents of the Central area or neighboring districts for its fiercely competitive football squad. Over the years, the group, known as the Daniel Lions, has won multiple state championships.
Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg, SC)
Spartanburg Day School, a reputable private school with roughly 440 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, offers some of the best secondary education South Carolina has to offer.
It is the top-ranked private high school in Spartanburg County and ranks sixth out of 89 private schools in South Carolina. The school has a 100% graduation rate in addition to a student-to-teacher ratio of just 8:1.
Additionally, Spartanburg Day School is a top option for college preparation because 100% of its graduates enroll in four-year colleges or universities.
In fact, Spartanburg is also sixth in the state for the top private school college prep programs.
Charleston County School of the Arts (Charleston, SC)
Since 1995, middle and high school students in the Charleston region have benefited from exceptional arts-focused instruction at the public magnet school Charleston County School of the Arts.
The school provides nine different art majors for high school students to select from.
Charleston County SOA has 1,086 students enrolled in grades six through twelve as of the 2021–22 school year. The faculty at the school is made up of 75 seasoned, caring educators, 77% of whom have advanced degrees.
At Charleston County SOA, just under 97% of students complete their degrees on schedule. In other words, only a very small number of seniors do not receive degrees at the conclusion of their fourth year of study.
Hilton Head Preparatory School
Hilton Head Preparatory School is a private K–12 boarding school close to Hilton Head Island that was established in 1986 as the consequence of the union of two prior institutions. Across all grade levels, the school is home to roughly 400 pupils.
According to a 2023 Niche rated ranking, Hilton Head Preparatory School is the top boarding school in South Carolina.
Regarding the best STEM high schools, best private high schools, and best college prep at a private high school in Beaufort County, Hilton Head Prep comes out on top.
The school lays a strong emphasis on helping students get ready for successful college careers by giving them a secure, encouraging academic atmosphere while supervising them with highly skilled teaching staff.
This concentration has led to Hilton developing a long-standing reputation for sending its graduates to prestigious universities.
Spring Hill High School (Chapin, SC)
Chapin, South Carolina’s semi-rural Chapin is home to the public magnet high school Spring Hill High School.
More than 1,100 kids are enrolled at the school as of the 2020–2021 academic year, with 250–300 pupils in each grade.
According to US News and World Report, Spring Hill HS is the sixth-best public high school in South Carolina.
The numerous extracurricular clubs of Spring Hill High School are what distinguish the school. The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, such as the Multimedia Gaming Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Guitar Club.
