Barnwell School District

770 Hagood Avenue
Barnwell, SC 29812
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,899 students in Barnwell School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Barnwell School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Carolina public elementary school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public elementary school average of 54% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (SC)
# Schools
10 Schools
974 Schools
# Students
3,123 Students
557,404 Students
# Teachers
245 Teachers
40,571 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Barnwell School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 74 school districts in South Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has increased from 80-84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SC)
#45 out of 74 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
36%
43%
41%
52%
40%
50%
82%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.68
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
5%
15%
% Black
53%
30%
% White
37%
46%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
7%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $9,072 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,175. The school district revenue/student has declined by 28% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $8,537 is less than the state median of $14,773. The school district spending/student has declined by 28% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SC)
Total Revenue
$28 MM
$12,084 MM
Spending
$27 MM
$11,764 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,072
$15,175
Spending / Student
$8,537
$14,773

Best Barnwell School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Barnwell Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
10524 Marlboro Avenue
Barnwell, SC 29812
(803) 541-1285
Gr: 4-6 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #22.
Barnwell Primary
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
9286 Marlboro Avenue
Barnwell, SC 29812
(803) 541-1320
Gr: PK-3 | 680 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: n/an/a
1071 Elko Street
Williston, SC 29853
(803) 266-3737
Gr: PK-5 | 296 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: n/an/a
556 Jones Bridge Road
Blackville, SC 29817
(803) 284-5800
Gr: PK-8 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: n/an/a
12233 Main Street
Williston, SC 29853
(803) 266-3430
Gr: 6-8 | 149 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 72%

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 10 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,123 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 64%
  • : 82% (Btm 50% in SC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 36% (Btm 50%)
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • : 40% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SC Dept. of Education

Quick Links