Top Rankings
Laurens 55 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 1,961 students in Laurens 55 School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in South Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Laurens 55 School District have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the South Carolina public middle school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 31% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public middle school average of 52% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (SC)
# Schools
9 Schools
361 Schools
# Students
4,984 Students
229,087 Students
# Teachers
459 Teachers
16,343 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Laurens 55 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 81% has increased from 80% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#59 out of 74 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
43%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
52%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
50%
Graduation Rate
81%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.64
0.66
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
18%
14%
% Black
27%
30%
% White
51%
48%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,388 is higher than the state median of $15,175. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,483 is less than the state median of $14,773. The school district spending/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$77 MM
$12,084 MM
Spending
$72 MM
$11,764 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,388
$15,175
Spending / Student
$14,483
$14,773
Best Laurens 55 School District Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hickory Tavern Elementary Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
163 Neely Ferry Road
Gray Court, SC 29645
(864) 575-2126
Gray Court, SC 29645
(864) 575-2126
Gr: PK-8 | 623 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Gray Court-owings Elementary Middle School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
9210 Highway 14
Gray Court, SC 29645
(864) 876-2131
Gray Court, SC 29645
(864) 876-2131
Gr: PK-8 | 715 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #33.
Laurens Middle School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1035 West Main Street
Laurens, SC 29360
(864) 984-2400
Laurens, SC 29360
(864) 984-2400
Gr: 6-8 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #44.
Sanders Middle School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
609 Green Street
Laurens, SC 29360
(864) 984-0354
Laurens, SC 29360
(864) 984-0354
Gr: 6-8 | 250 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
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