Total enrollment
11,134
-579 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Orangeburg County
South Carolina · Public K-12
Of the 34 public K-12 schools in Orangeburg County, the largest district by enrollment is Orangeburg (10,462 students). Total county enrollment runs around 11,507. The level mix is 17 elementary, 5 middle, and 11 high schools.
4-year change in Orangeburg County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
29
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Orangeburg County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 11,507 | #17 of 44 | #732 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 30 | #14 of 44 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.4:1 | #29 of 44 | #1,550 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 100.0% | #5 of 13 | #19 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 41.0% | #38 of 42 | #1,446 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.
Orangeburg County school rankings
Residents
83,253
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
34
6 districts
Enrollment
11,507
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$45,675
Below South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
100.0%
Above South Carolina avg
Elementary
17
5,308 students
Middle
5
2,296 students
High
11
3,903 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Orangeburg
10,462 students · 6 districts in Orangeburg County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Orangeburg 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+
19.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.3%
civilian labor
Median age
41
21.4% under 18
Test scores in Orangeburg County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 22 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Branchville High· 68.1%
- Lockett Elementary· 67.6%
- Felton Laboratory Charter School· 58.4%
- Dover Elementary· 49.4%
- Vance-Providence Elementary· 47.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Bethune-Bowman Middle/High· 26.1%
- Mellichamp Elementary· 28.0%
- William J. Clark Middle· 30.9%
- Sheridan Elementary· 31.2%
- Carver Edisto Middle· 33.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg Wilkinson High | Orangeburg | High | 09-12 | 992 | · |
| Lake Marion High School | Santee | High | 09-12 | 692 | · |
| Edisto Primary | Cordova | Elementary | PK-02 | 635 | · |
| Marshall Elementary | Orangeburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 625 | · |
| Edisto High | Cordova | High | 09-12 | 614 | · |
| William J. Clark Middle | Orangeburg | Middle | 06-08 | 587 | · |
| Lake Marion Middle | Santee | Middle | 06-08 | 501 | · |
| Orangeburg High School for Health Professions | Orangeburg | High | 09-12 | 492 | · |
| Sheridan Elementary | Orangeburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 450 | · |
| Carver Edisto Middle | Cope | Middle | 06-08 | 439 | · |
| Edisto Elementary | Orangeburg | Elementary | 03-05 | 419 | · |
| Robert E. Howard Middle | Orangeburg | Middle | 06-08 | 396 | · |
| Holly Hill-Roberts Middle | Holly Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 373 | · |
| Holly Hill Elementary | Holly Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 356 | · |
| Bethune-Bowman Middle/High | Rowesville | High | 06-12 | 349 | · |
| Whittaker Elementary | Orangeburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 325 | · |
| Branchville High | Branchville | High | 06-12 | 317 | · |
| Felton Laboratory Charter School | Orangeburg | Elementary | KG-08 | 279 | · |
| Willie Jeffries School of Excellence | Orangeburg | Elementary | KG-06 | 274 | · |
| Bethune-Bowman Elementary | Rowesville | Elementary | PK-05 | 259 | · |
| Elloree Elementary | Elloree | Elementary | PK-08 | 252 | · |
| Lockett Elementary | Branchville | Elementary | PK-05 | 239 | · |
| Dover Elementary | North | Elementary | PK-05 | 237 | · |
| North Middle/High | North | High | 06-12 | 227 | · |
| Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High | Neeses | High | 06-12 | 220 | · |
| Brookdale Elementary | Orangeburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 215 | · |
| St. James-Gaillard Elementary | Eutawville | Elementary | PK-05 | 211 | · |
| Vance-Providence Elementary | Vance | Elementary | PK-05 | 209 | · |
| Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Elementary | Neeses | Elementary | PK-05 | 179 | · |
| Mellichamp Elementary | Orangeburg | Elementary | 03-05 | 144 | · |
| Cope Area Career Center | Cope | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Lake Marion Technology Center | Santee | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| The Orangeburg Career & Technology Center | Orangeburg | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Rivelon Elementary | Orangeburg | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Orangeburg County
About Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County is a moderately sized county of about 83,253 residents in South Carolina. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 11,507 students across 34 schools.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $45,675 a year, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 16%. That income level is 23% meaningfully below the South Carolina median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Orangeburg County spans 17 elementary schools (5,308 students), 5 middle schools (2,296), 11 high schools (3,903), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Orangeburg County is Orangeburg, which alone enrolls about 10,462 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 11,134 students, decreased 5% from the 11,713 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Orangeburg County added 1 school, going from 28 to 29.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Orangeburg County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data