Total enrollment
16,866
+444 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
Pickens County
South Carolina · Public K-12
Public-school families in Pickens County pick from 27 schools serving the county's roughly 16,866 K-12 students, with a mix of 15 elementary, 7 middle, and 5 high.
7-year change in Pickens County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
26
+2 (+8%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
73%
was 80%
% Hispanic
11%
was 7%
% Black
7%
was 7%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
27
2 districts
Enrollment
16,866
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,064
Above South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
15
8,135 students
Middle
7
3,781 students
High
5
4,950 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Pickens 01
16,313 students · 2 districts in Pickens County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Pickens 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+
28.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
36
18.6% under 18
Test scores in Pickens County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 20 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Ambler Elementary· 79.3%
- Clemson Elementary· 78.4%
- McKissick Academy of Science & Technology· 77.7%
- Forest Acres Elementary· 77.1%
- Youth Leadership Academy· 74.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Lakes and Bridges Charter School· 35.9%
- Pickens Middle· 52.9%
- Richard H. Gettys Middle· 53.3%
- West End Elementary· 54.6%
- Dacusville Middle· 56.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easley High | Easley | High | 09-12 | 1,862 | · |
| Pickens High | Pickens | High | 09-12 | 1,226 | · |
| D. W. Daniel High | Central | High | 09-12 | 1,222 | · |
| Richard H. Gettys Middle | Easley | Middle | 06-08 | 1,217 | · |
| R. C. Edwards Middle | Central | Middle | 06-08 | 835 | · |
| Clemson Elementary | Clemson | Elementary | PK-05 | 794 | · |
| Forest Acres Elementary | Easley | Elementary | PK-05 | 677 | · |
| West End Elementary | Easley | Elementary | PK-05 | 643 | · |
| Liberty High | Liberty | High | 09-12 | 640 | · |
| Liberty Primary | Liberty | Elementary | PK-02 | 637 | · |
| East End Elementary | Easley | Elementary | PK-05 | 618 | · |
| Dacusville Elementary | Easley | Elementary | PK-05 | 573 | · |
| Six Mile Elementary | Six Mile | Elementary | PK-05 | 571 | · |
| Hagood Elementary | Pickens | Elementary | PK-05 | 567 | · |
| Pickens Middle | Pickens | Middle | 06-08 | 566 | · |
| Crosswell Elementary | Easley | Elementary | PK-05 | 554 | · |
| McKissick Academy of Science & Technology | Easley | Elementary | PK-05 | 519 | · |
| Central Academy of the Arts | Central | Elementary | PK-05 | 499 | · |
| Pickens Elementary | Pickens | Elementary | PK-05 | 493 | · |
| Liberty Elementary | Liberty | Elementary | 03-05 | 470 | · |
| Liberty Middle | Liberty | Middle | 06-08 | 458 | · |
| Dacusville Middle | Easley | Middle | 06-08 | 356 | · |
| Ambler Elementary | Pickens | Elementary | PK-05 | 316 | · |
| Youth Leadership Academy | Pickens | Middle | 06-08 | 290 | · |
| Lakes and Bridges Charter School | Easley | Elementary | 01-08 | 204 | · |
| Summit Academy | Pickens | Middle | 06-07 | 59 | · |
| Pickens County Career and Technology Center | Liberty | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Pickens County
About Pickens County
Across the mid-sized South Carolina county of Pickens County of about 134,629 residents, the public-school footprint covers 27 schools and about 16,866 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $61,064, roughly 29% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
In terms of grade levels, Pickens County is made up of 15 elementary schools (8,135 students), 7 middle schools (3,781), and 5 high schools (4,950).
The largest single district in Pickens County is Pickens 01, which alone enrolls about 16,313 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Pickens County has increased 3% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 16,422 students to 16,866. The school count climbed from 24 to 26 across the same 7-year window. The White share of public-school enrollment declined from 80% to 73%.
On this page, the community for Pickens County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Pickens County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data