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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Public Middle Schools in South Carolina (2026)

The top-ranked public middle schools in South Carolina are Buist Academy, Sterling School and Belton Preparatory Academy. The cities and towns with the highest concentration of top-ranked public middle schools are Mount Pleasant, Piedmont and Chapin.
A school's overall testing rank is based on a it's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. The average percentage of students achieving math proficiency in South Carolina is 43%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 52%.

Top-Ranked Public Middle Schools in South Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Buist Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 93% | Reading: 96%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 93% (Top 1%)
Reading: 96% (Top 1%)
Grades: 3-8
103 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-7750
Rank: #22.
Sterling School
(Math: 92% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 92% (Top 1%)
Reading: 89% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-8
99 John Mccarroll Way
Greenville, SC 29607
(864) 355-4480
Rank: #33.
Belton Preparatory Academy
Charter School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80-89% (Top 10%)
Grades: K-8
5901 Belton Highway
Belton, SC 29627
(864) 392-1173
Rank: #44.
Charleston School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 78% (Top 5%)
Reading: 87% (Top 10%)
Grades: 6-12
5109-b West Enterprise Street
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 529-4990
Rank: #55.
Rollings Middle School Of The Arts
(Math: 75% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 75% (Top 10%)
Reading: 85% (Top 10%)
Grades: 6-8
815 South Main Street
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-3610
Rank: #66.
Daniel Island School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 75% (Top 10%)
Reading: 83% (Top 10%)
Grades: K-8
2365 Daniel Island Drive
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2301
Rank: #77.
Montessori Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 75-79% (Top 10%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-8
2122 Wood Avenue
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 769-0346
Rank: #88.
Orange Grove Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 74% (Top 10%)
Reading: 79% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-8
1225 Orange Branch Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1520
Rank: #99.
Thomas C. Cario Middle School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 75% (Top 10%)
Reading: 77% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
3500 Thomas Cario Boulevard
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
(843) 856-4595
Rank: #1010.
East Cooper Montessori Charter
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 68% (Top 20%)
Reading: 83% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-8
1120 Rifle Range Road
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 216-2883
Rank: #1111.
Laing Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 78% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
2705 Bulrush Basket Lane
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
(843) 849-2809
Rank: #1212.
Gold Hill Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 77% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
1025 Dave Gibson Boulevard
Fort Mill, SC 29708
(803) 548-8300
Rank: #1313.
Southwood Academy For The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 72% (Top 10%)
Reading: 74% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
1110 Southwood Street
Anderson, SC 29624
(864) 260-5205
Rank: #1414.
Gray Collegiate Academy
Charter School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 61% (Top 30%)
Reading: 83% (Top 10%)
Grades: 6-12
3833 Leaphart Road
West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 951-3321
Rank: #1515.
Pleasant Knoll Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 76% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
2320 Pleasant Road
Fort Mill, SC 29708
(803) 835-3770
Rank: #1616.
Moultrie Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 74% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
645 Coleman Boulevard
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 849-2819
Rank: #1717.
Dixie High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 65-69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 74% (Top 20%)
Grades: 7-12
1 Haynes Street
Due West, SC 29639
(864) 379-2186
Rank: #1818.
Forest Creek Middle School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 65% (Top 20%)
Reading: 70% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
2212 Whites Road
Fort Mill, SC 29715
(803) 396-3450
Rank: #1919.
Fort Mill Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 63% (Top 20%)
Reading: 69% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
200 Springfield Parkway
Fort Mill, SC 29715
(803) 547-5553
Rank: #2020.
Oakridge Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 64% (Top 20%)
Reading: 65% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
5670 Oakridge Road
Clover, SC 29710
(803) 631-8000
Rank: #2121.
Riverside Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 69% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
615 Hammett Bridge Road
Greer, SC 29650
(864) 355-7900
Rank: #2222.
Powdersville Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 67% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
135 Hood Road
Greenville, SC 29611
(864) 269-1821
Rank: #2323.
Springfield Middle School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 62% (Top 20%)
Reading: 62% (Top 50%)
Grades: 6-8
1711 Springfield Parkway
Fort Mill, SC 29715
(803) 548-8199
Rank: #2424.
Murray-lasaine Montessori
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 55-59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 65-69% (Top 30%)
Grades: PK-8
691 Riverland Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2765
Rank: #2525.
Ruldolph G. Gordon School At Jones Mill
(Math: 58% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 58% (Top 30%)
Reading: 64% (Top 30%)
Grades: K-8
1507 Scuffletown Road
Simpsonville, SC 29681
(864) 355-0200
Rank: #2626.
Green Charter School Spartanburg
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 60-64% (Top 50%)
Grades: K-8
8150 Warren H. Abernathy Highw
Spartanburg, SC 29301
(864) 586-3939
Rank: #2727.
Ocean Bay Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 61% (Top 30%)
Reading: 61% (Top 50%)
Grades: 6-8
905 International Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-8420
Rank: #2828.
Meadow Glen Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 57% (Top 30%)
Reading: 64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
440 Ginny Lane
Lexington, SC 29072
(803) 821-0600
Rank: #2929.
York Preparatory Academy
Charter School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 56% (Top 30%)
Reading: 66% (Top 30%)
Grades: K-12
1047 Golden Gate Court
Rock Hill, SC 29732
(803) 324-4400
Rank: #3030.
Youth Leadership Academy
Charter School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 52% (Top 50%)
Reading: 71% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
698 Concord Church Road
Pickens, SC 29671
(864) 898-4511
Rank: #3131.
Mccants Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 55% (Top 30%)
Reading: 64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
2123 Marchbanks Avenue
Anderson, SC 29621
(864) 260-5145
Rank: #3232.
Riverview Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 56% (Top 30%)
Reading: 62% (Top 50%)
Grades: K-8
81 Savannah Highway
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 379-0133
Rank: #3333.
Palmetto Scholars Academy
Charter School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 46% (Top 50%)
Reading: 77% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-12
7499 Dorchester Road
North Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 300-4118
Rank: #3434.
Banks Trail Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 53% (Top 50%)
Reading: 64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
1640 Banks Road
Fort Mill, SC 29715
(803) 578-2990
Rank: #3535.
Marrington Middle School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 47% (Top 50%)
Reading: 73% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
109 Gearing Street
Goose Creek, SC 29445
(843) 572-0313
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