Best High Schools in South Carolina

Top 50 high schools in South Carolina, 2026-27

236 South Carolina high schools are ranked in this edition, ordered here by state rank.

1. Aiken Scholars Academy — Aiken · #1 in SC · #14 nationally
2. Hcs Scholars Academy High — Conway · #2 in SC · #18 nationally
3. Academic Magnet High School — North Charleston · #3 in SC · #23 nationally
4. Charleston School of the Arts — North Charleston · #4 in SC · #214 nationally
5. Spring Hill High School — Chapin · #5 in SC · #711 nationally
6. Lucy Garrett Beckham High — Mt. Pleasant · #6 in SC · #864 nationally
7. Chapin High School — Chapin · #7 in SC · #969 nationally
8. Fort Mill High School — Fort Mill · #8 in SC · #1,006 nationally
9. Palmetto Scholars Academy — North Charleston · #9 in SC · #1,074 nationally
10. Wando High School — Mount Pleasant · #10 in SC · #1,123 nationally
11. Riverside High School — Greer · #11 in SC · #1,244 nationally
12. Nation Ford High School — Fort Mill · #12 in SC · #1,368 nationally
13. Charleston Charter School for Math and Science — Charleston · #13 in SC · #1,483 nationally
14. Mayo High for Math Science and Technology — Darlington · #14 in SC · #1,485 nationally
15. River Bluff High School — Lexington · #15 in SC · #1,504 nationally
16. Mauldin High School — Mauldin · #16 in SC · #1,548 nationally
17. Dreher High School — Columbia · #17 in SC · #1,695 nationally
18. Catawba Ridge High School — Fort Mill · #18 in SC · #1,768 nationally
19. Dutch Fork High School — Irmo · #19 in SC · #1,769 nationally
20. Wade Hampton High School — Greenville · #20 in SC · #1,772 nationally
21. J. L. Mann High Academy — Greenville · #21 in SC · #1,817 nationally
22. D. W. Daniel High School — Central · #22 in SC · #2,025 nationally
23. Bluffton High School — Bluffton · #23 in SC · #2,093 nationally
24. Eastside High School — Taylors · #24 in SC · #2,170 nationally
25. Greer Middle College Charter High School — Taylors · #25 in SC · #2,195 nationally
26. Greenville Senior High Academy — Greenville · #26 in SC · #2,254 nationally
27. James Island Charter High School — Charleston · #27 in SC · #2,340 nationally
28. A. C. Flora High School — Columbia · #28 in SC · #2,391 nationally
29. Ashley Ridge High School — Summerville · #29 in SC · #2,462 nationally
30. Aynor High School — Aynor · #30 in SC · #2,714 nationally
31. St. James High School — Murrells Inlet · #31 in SC · #2,766 nationally
32. Lexington High School — Lexington · #32 in SC · #2,770 nationally
33. Woodmont High School — Piedmont · #33 in SC · #3,110 nationally
34. Blythewood High School — Blythewood · #34 in SC · #3,153 nationally
35. Carolina Forest High School — Myrtle Beach · #35 in SC · #3,157 nationally
36. Brashier Middle College Charter High School — Simpsonville · #36 in SC · #3,179 nationally
37. T. L. Hanna High School — Anderson · #37 in SC · #3,288 nationally
38. North Myrtle Beach High School — Little River · #38 in SC · #3,306 nationally
39. Bridges Preparatory School — Beaufort · #39 in SC · #3,316 nationally
40. Fort Dorchester High School — North Charleston · #40 in SC · #3,381 nationally
41. Hillcrest High School — Simpsonville · #41 in SC · #3,406 nationally
42. West Ashley High School — Charleston · #42 in SC · #3,573 nationally
43. Spring Valley High School — Columbia · #43 in SC · #3,632 nationally
44. Green Sea Floyds High School — Green Sea · #44 in SC · #3,686 nationally
45. Philip Simmons High School — Charleston · #45 in SC · #3,691 nationally
46. Greenville Technical Charter High School — Greenville · #46 in SC · #3,855 nationally
47. May River High School — Bluffton · #47 in SC · #3,918 nationally
48. Powdersville High School — Greenville · #48 in SC · #3,935 nationally
49. York Preparatory Academy — Rock Hill · #49 in SC · #3,954 nationally
50. Waccamaw High School — Pawleys Island · #50 in SC · #3,986 nationally

High schools by city in South Carolina

• Columbia (12)
• Greenville (11)
• North Charleston (8)
• Rock Hill (6)
• Aiken (5)
• Conway (5)
• Charleston (5)
• Lexington (4)
• Summerville (4)
• Myrtle Beach (4)
• Anderson (4)
• Beaufort (4)

Ranks are from the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools edition. How HighSchoolTrends uses this data.