Total enrollment
8,601
-257 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Laurens County
South Carolina · Public K-12
Of the 18 public K-12 schools in Laurens County, the largest district by enrollment is Laurens 55 (4,984 students). Total county enrollment runs around 8,681. By level, that breaks down as 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools.
4-year change in Laurens County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Laurens County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,681 | #22 of 44 | #895 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 18 | #21 of 44 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.6:1 | #4 of 44 | #418 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 26.3% | #12 of 13 | #2,453 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 62.5% | #18 of 42 | #447 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Laurens County school rankings
Residents
68,666
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
18
4 districts
Enrollment
8,681
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$57,623
Below South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
26.3%
Below South Carolina avg
Elementary
12
4,708 students
Middle
3
1,203 students
High
2
2,245 students
Combined / other
1
525 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Laurens 55
4,984 students · 4 districts in Laurens County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Laurens County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
17.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
21.8% under 18
Test scores in Laurens County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Waterloo Elementary· 73.3%
- Eastside Elementary· 72.0%
- Thornwell Charter School· 62.2%
- Ware Shoals Primary· 60.4%
- Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle· 55.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Ford Elementary· 33.5%
- Sanders Middle· 36.3%
- Laurens Middle· 39.1%
- Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle· 43.4%
- Laurens Elementary· 46.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens District 55 High | Laurens | High | 09-12 | 1,434 | · |
| Clinton High | Clinton | High | 09-12 | 811 | · |
| Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle | Gray Court | Elementary | PK-08 | 715 | · |
| Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle | Gray Court | Elementary | PK-08 | 623 | · |
| Clinton Middle | Clinton | Middle | 06-08 | 580 | · |
| Thornwell Charter School | Clinton | Combined | KG-12 | 525 | · |
| Laurens Elementary | Laurens | Elementary | PK-05 | 465 | · |
| Eastside Elementary | Clinton | Elementary | KG-05 | 462 | · |
| E. B. Morse Elementary | Laurens | Elementary | PK-05 | 447 | · |
| Ford Elementary | Laurens | Elementary | PK-05 | 423 | · |
| Clinton Elementary | Clinton | Elementary | KG-05 | 422 | · |
| Ware Shoals Primary | Ware Shoals | Elementary | PK-04 | 385 | · |
| Laurens Middle | Laurens | Middle | 06-08 | 373 | · |
| Joanna-Woodson Elementary | Joanna | Elementary | KG-05 | 293 | · |
| Waterloo Elementary | Waterloo | Elementary | PK-05 | 254 | · |
| Sanders Middle | Laurens | Middle | 06-08 | 250 | · |
| M. S. Bailey Child Development Center | Clinton | Elementary | PK-PK | 139 | · |
| Summit Classical School | Clinton | Elementary | KG-07 | 80 | · |
Cities in Laurens County
About Laurens County
Across the average-sized South Carolina county of Laurens County of about 68,666 residents, the public-school footprint covers 18 schools and about 8,681 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $57,623 a year, roughly 18% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 14% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
Looking at the level breakdown, Laurens County is made up of 12 elementary schools (4,708 students), 3 middle schools (1,203), 2 high schools (2,245), and 1 combined or other schools.
Laurens 55 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,984 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 8,601 students, declined 3% from the 8,858 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Laurens County lost 1 school, going from 18 to 17.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Laurens County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data