Total enrollment
64,555
+14,039 (+28%) vs SY 2017-18
Lexington County
South Carolina · Public K-12
Lexington County operates 76 public K-12 schools across South Carolina, with a combined student body of roughly 64,555 and a county population near 304,887. By level, that breaks down as 37 elementary, 18 middle, and 17 high schools.
7-year change in Lexington County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
74
+6 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
56%
was 62%
% Hispanic
14%
was 10%
% Black
21%
was 21%
% Asian
3%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
304,887
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
76
7 districts
Enrollment
64,555
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$77,408
Above South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
37
23,315 students
Middle
18
12,136 students
High
17
17,007 students
Combined / other
4
12,097 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Lexington 01
27,074 students · 7 districts in Lexington County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lexington 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+
34.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.0% under 18
Test scores in Lexington County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 56 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Gray Collegiate Academy· 91.5%
- Lake Murray Elementary· 84.5%
- Pleasant Hill Elementary· 83.6%
- New Providence Elementary· 82.7%
- Midway Elementary· 82.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Carolus Online Academy· 28.2%
- Sandhills Middle· 33.5%
- Pine Ridge Middle· 33.8%
- Frances F. Mack Intermediate· 37.2%
- Cayce Elementary· 39.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC Connections Academy | Columbia | Combined | KG-12 | 6,152 | · |
| Lexington High | Lexington | High | 09-12 | 2,536 | · |
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School | West Columbia | Combined | KG-12 | 2,180 | · |
| River Bluff High | Lexington | High | 09-12 | 2,117 | · |
| White Knoll High | Lexington | High | 09-12 | 2,025 | · |
| American Leadership Academy South Carolina-Lexington Campu | Lexington | Combined | KG-12 | 1,979 | · |
| Carolus Online Academy | Columbia | Combined | KG-12 | 1,786 | · |
| Chapin High | Chapin | High | 09-12 | 1,617 | · |
| Airport High | West Columbia | High | 09-12 | 1,272 | · |
| Irmo High | Columbia | High | 09-12 | 1,272 | · |
| Brookland-Cayce High | Cayce | High | 09-12 | 1,212 | · |
| Gilbert High | Gilbert | High | 09-12 | 1,138 | · |
| Beechwood Middle | Lexington | Middle | 06-08 | 1,033 | · |
| Riverbank Elementary | West Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 996 | · |
| Irmo Middle | Columbia | Middle | 06-08 | 992 | · |
| Chapin Intermediate | Chapin | Middle | 05-06 | 985 | · |
| Cayce Elementary | Cayce | Elementary | PK-05 | 977 | · |
| Herbert A. Wood Elementary | West Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 938 | · |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | West Columbia | High | 06-12 | 935 | · |
| Lakeside Middle | Lexington | Middle | 06-08 | 893 | · |
| Midway Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 856 | · |
| Pleasant Hill Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 846 | · |
| Gilbert Elementary | Gilbert | Elementary | PK-05 | 823 | · |
| Lake Murray Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 813 | · |
| Centerville Elementary | Gilbert | Elementary | PK-05 | 812 | · |
| New Providence Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 810 | · |
| Rocky Creek Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 805 | · |
| Gilbert Middle | Gilbert | Middle | 06-08 | 804 | · |
| Carolina Springs Middle | Lexington | Middle | 06-08 | 791 | · |
| Meadow Glen Middle | Lexington | Middle | 06-08 | 778 | · |
| Meadow Glen Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 775 | · |
| Chapin Elementary | Chapin | Elementary | PK-04 | 767 | · |
| Deerfield Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 753 | · |
| Pleasant Hill Middle | Lexington | Middle | 06-08 | 750 | · |
| East Point Academy | 1043 Chris Drive | Elementary | PK-08 | 724 | · |
| Pelion High | Pelion | High | 09-12 | 718 | · |
| Swansea High | Swansea | High | 09-12 | 695 | · |
| White Knoll Middle | West Columbia | Middle | 06-08 | 693 | · |
| Oak Grove Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 691 | · |
| Pelion Elementary | Pelion | Elementary | PK-05 | 642 | · |
| White Knoll Elementary | West Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 615 | · |
| Lexington Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 607 | · |
| CrossRoads Intermediate | Columbia | Middle | 06-06 | 557 | · |
| Red Bank Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 556 | · |
| Batesburg-Leesville High School | Batesburg-Leesville | High | 09-12 | 545 | · |
| Odyssey Online Learning | Chapin | High | 09-12 | 536 | · |
| Northside Middle | West Columbia | Middle | 06-08 | 528 | · |
| R. H. Fulmer Middle | West Columbia | Middle | 06-08 | 526 | · |
| Batesburg-Leesville Primary School | Batesburg-Leesville | Elementary | PK-02 | 525 | · |
| Seven Oaks Elementary | Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 522 | · |
| Frances F. Mack Intermediate | Gaston | Middle | 05-06 | 515 | · |
| Pelion Middle | Pelion | Middle | 06-08 | 513 | · |
| Piney Woods Elementary | Chapin | Elementary | PK-04 | 511 | · |
| Harbison West Elementary | Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 510 | · |
| Sandhills Primary | Swansea | Elementary | 01-02 | 509 | · |
| Saxe Gotha Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 499 | · |
| Lexington Four Early Childhood Center | Swansea | Elementary | PK-KG | 495 | · |
| Sandhills Middle | Gaston | Middle | 07-08 | 495 | · |
| Sandhills Elementary | Swansea | Elementary | 03-04 | 491 | · |
| Irmo Elementary | Irmo | Elementary | PK-05 | 487 | · |
| Leaphart Elementary | Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 483 | · |
| Forts Pond Elementary | Pelion | Elementary | PK-05 | 478 | · |
| Nursery Road Elementary | Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 471 | · |
| South Lake Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 466 | · |
| Batesburg-Leesville Middle School | Batesburg-Leesville | Middle | 06-08 | 462 | · |
| Springdale Elementary | West Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 443 | · |
| Cyril B. Busbee Creative Arts Academy | Cayce | Middle | 06-08 | 442 | · |
| Carolina Springs Elementary | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 438 | · |
| Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School | Batesburg-Leesville | Elementary | 03-05 | 429 | · |
| Saluda River Academy for the Arts | West Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 400 | · |
| Pine Ridge Middle | West Columbia | Middle | 06-08 | 379 | · |
| Congaree Elementary | West Columbia | Elementary | 02-05 | 352 | · |
| Swansea High Freshman Academy | Swansea | High | 09-09 | 274 | · |
| Midlands Middle College | West Columbia | High | 10-12 | 115 | · |
| Lexington Technology Center | Lexington | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Lexington Two Innovation Center | West Columbia | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Lexington County
About Lexington County
Lexington County is a sprawling county of about 304,887 residents in South Carolina. Its public-school system teaches approximately 64,555 students across 76 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $77,408, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 31% above the South Carolina median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Lexington County comprises 37 elementary schools (23,315 students), 18 middle schools (12,136), 17 high schools (17,007), and 4 combined or other schools.
Lexington 01 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 27,074 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 28%: 50,516 students in SY 2017-18 versus 64,555 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 68 to 74 across the same 7-year window. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 62% to 56% over the same window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Lexington County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Lexington County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data