High Schools in Florence 03

The Florence 03 school district in South Carolina is home to two high schools: Lake City High and J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet. While both schools serve students in the same district, they exhibit significant performance differences, with J. Paul Truluck emerging as the standout institution.

J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet outperforms the district and state averages on several key metrics, including End of Course Exams (EOCEP) and SC READY assessments. The school is ranked in the top half of South Carolina high schools, while Lake City High falls in the bottom quarter. Additionally, J. Paul Truluck has a more diverse student population, with a more even distribution of racial and ethnic groups compared to the predominantly African American student body at Lake City High.

Despite the performance gap, both Lake City High and J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet face the challenge of high poverty levels, with 100% of their students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This contextual factor likely plays a significant role in the schools' resource needs and student outcomes. The Florence 03 district and state education authorities should closely examine the factors contributing to the performance gap and explore targeted interventions to support underperforming schools and ensure equitable access to quality education for all students.