Gaffney High

Summary:

Gaffney High is a public high school in Gaffney, South Carolina, serving 1,838 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Cherokee 01 school district, which is ranked 55 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Gaffney High consistently underperforms compared to state and district averages on End-of-Course (EOC) exams. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 48.05% of Gaffney High students were proficient or better in Algebra 1, compared to 60.62% for the Cherokee 01 district and 72.5% for the state. The school also has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 59.52% to 84.17% in recent years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. Gaffney High's diverse student population is 54.84% White, 30.9% African American, and 10.77% Hispanic.

Despite its diversity, Gaffney High has consistently ranked in the bottom half of South Carolina high schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's academic performance, particularly for subgroups like African American, Hispanic, and low-socioeconomic status students, has been declining relative to the state and district averages. This suggests a widening achievement gap, which may be exacerbated by resource constraints and funding challenges. In contrast, some nearby schools like Blacksburg High and Boiling Springs High perform significantly better on EOC exams and have higher school rankings.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 149 Twin Lake Road
       Gaffney, SC  29341


(864) 206-2000

District: Cherokee 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
203rd of 235 South Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,821 Help


Feeder schools for Gaffney High:

Elementary:    B. D. Lee Elementary
    Corinth Elementary
    Draytonville Elementary
    Grassy Pond Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Gaffney Middle
    John E. Ewing Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  17.5 Help
Number of students:  1,878

Racial breakdown:

White:
54.5%
African American:
30.4%
Hispanic:
11.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  76.8% Help


 See top rated South Carolina high schools

 Compare Gaffney High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Gaffney High ranks worse than 86.4% of high schools in South Carolina. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.96. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Gaffney High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Gaffney High has the largest high school student body size in the Cherokee 01 School District. Racial makeup is: White (54.5%), African American (30.4%), Hispanic (11.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 76.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Cherokee 01 School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Gaffney High is 17.5, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Cherokee 01 School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Gaffney High employs 107 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Gaffney High is $13,821. 1 high schools in the Cherokee 01 School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Gaffney High:

SchoolDigger ranks Gaffney High 203rd of 235 South Carolina public high schools. (See Gaffney High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Cherokee 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherokee 01 55th of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Gaffney High?

Rank History for Gaffney High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 50.78 125th 187 33.2%
2006 57.18 107th 191 44.0%
2007 56.02 109th 191 42.9%
2008 60.55 90th 185 51.4%
2009 47.86 121st 188 35.6%
2010 57.05 92nd 199 53.8%
2011 44.50 120th 199 39.7%
2012 46.09 123rd 202 39.1%
2013 45.25 117th 203 42.4%
2014 51.43 108th 210 48.6%
2015 38.62 128th 232 44.8%
2016 33.22 150th 231 35.1%
2017 18.51 183rd 223 17.9%
2018 24.19 155th 216 28.2%
2019 18.52 176th 225 21.8%
2021 20.72 178th 227 21.6%
2022 19.80 182nd 226 19.5%
2023 17.25 198th 237 16.5%
2024 15.96 203rd 235 13.6%
See the entire list of South Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.85 56th 58 3.4%
2019 10.43 60th 64 6.3%
2021 36.47 33rd 46 28.3%
2022 23.80 51st 61 16.4%
2023 20.35 57th 68 16.2%
2024 22.35 59th 71 16.9%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.10 162nd 214 24.3%
2019 17.73 190th 217 12.4%
2021 17.54 183rd 213 14.1%
2022 18.59 186th 220 15.5%
2023 15.21 199th 226 11.9%
2024 14.09 208th 229 9.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.57 157th 210 25.2%
2019 20.15 166th 213 22.1%
2021 20.00 173rd 213 18.8%
2022 24.82 171st 220 22.3%
2023 13.69 196th 223 12.1%
2024 16.28 194th 225 13.8%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.16 97th 137 29.2%
2019 20.12 119th 143 16.8%
2021 22.01 97th 115 15.7%
2022 19.68 113th 139 18.7%
2023 41.34 80th 141 43.3%
2024 22.96 124th 145 14.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 12.91 148th 156 5.1%
2024 6.19 148th 157 5.7%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.04 158th 213 25.8%
2019 16.70 179th 218 17.9%
2021 20.19 168th 215 21.9%
2022 18.14 184th 224 17.9%
2023 20.37 183rd 229 20.1%
2024 15.48 201st 228 11.8%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.47 152nd 183 16.9%
2019 16.29 166th 184 9.8%
2021 17.30 163rd 178 8.4%
2022 18.48 171st 190 10.0%
2023 11.91 193rd 199 3.0%
2024 13.36 183rd 194 5.7%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.50 76th 80 5.0%
2019 12.00 82nd 86 4.7%
2021 20.86 81st 93 12.9%
2022 18.36 99th 108 8.3%
2023 8.99 114th 119 4.2%
2024 13.23 115th 121 5.0%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Gaffney High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.60 160th 185 13.5%
2019 13.05 169th 191 11.5%
2021 10.61 176th 189 6.9%
2022 13.97 181st 192 5.7%
2023 12.24 182nd 197 7.6%
2024 8.42 189th 196 3.6%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Gaffney High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: South Carolina State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Gaffney High

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1099 459 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 1561
1989 1028 454 3 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1487
1990 920 479 5 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1407
1991 867 483 4 1 0 n/a n/a 0 1355
1992 876 494 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 1371
1993 896 476 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1377
1994 911 481 9 4 1 n/a n/a 0 1406
1995 889 452 6 13 0 n/a n/a 0 1360
1996 889 452 6 13 0 n/a n/a 0 1360
1997 939 465 10 11 0 n/a n/a 0 1425
1998 911 451 9 10 0 n/a n/a 0 1381
1999 852 455 15 11 2 n/a n/a 0 1335
2000 819 457 14 16 0 n/a n/a 0 1306
2001 1256 656 16 26 1 n/a n/a 0 1955
2002 1265 655 14 41 0 n/a n/a 0 1975
2003 1265 655 14 41 0 n/a n/a 0 1975
2004 1286 722 14 42 1 n/a n/a 1 2066
2005 1296 712 14 55 0 n/a n/a 2 2079
2006 1275 683 22 60 0 n/a n/a 1 2041
2007 1288 700 18 66 0 n/a n/a 0 2072
2008 1307 694 16 73 1 n/a n/a 0 2091
2009 1352 685 14 71 1 n/a n/a 4 2127
2010 1303 665 10 81 0 n/a n/a 4 2063
2011 1287 654 11 108 0 0 1 0 2061
2012 1306 617 13 105 1 0 9 0 2051
2013 1249 591 16 120 1 1 17 0 1995
2014 1259 588 17 127 2 3 28 0 2024
2015 1267 568 19 134 4 4 28 0 2024
2016 1258 593 19 149 4 1 31 0 2055
2017 1239 606 19 156 5 2 24 0 2051
2018 1216 614 25 148 2 1 16 0 2022
2019 1115 583 26 141 1 2 15 0 1883
2020 1092 558 32 150 1 2 23 0 1858
2021 1060 559 30 143 1 0 25 0 1818
2022 1029 551 27 162 1 0 32 0 1802
2023 1008 568 33 198 0 0 31 0 1838
2024 1023 570 26 222 0 0 37 0 1878

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Gaffney High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1561 62.6 24.9 n/a
1989 1487 60.6 24.5 n/a
1990 1407 66.8 21.0 n/a
1991 1355 66.6 20.3 16.2
1992 1371 65.3 20.9 18.5
1993 1377 59.0 23.3 21.6
1994 1406 62.4 22.5 24.5
1995 1360 64.0 21.3 19.4
1996 1360 64.0 21.3 19.4
1997 1425 64.0 22.3 21.5
1998 1381 64.0 21.6 35
1999 1335 65.4 20.4 24.3
2000 1306 71.4 18.3 27
2001 1955 97.6 20.0 33.4
2002 1975 116.5 17.0 41.9
2003 1975 116.5 17.0 41.9
2004 2066 130.5 15.8 48
2005 2079 130.5 15.9 46.5
2006 2041 132.2 15.4 48
2007 2072 160.7 12.9 49.9
2008 2091 126.5 16.5 54.7
2009 2127 119.0 17.9 54.7
2010 2063 112.0 18.4 45.7
2011 2061 115.0 17.9 61.8
2012 2051 112.0 18.3 60.8
2013 1995 116.5 17.1 62.4
2014 2024 115.0 17.6 63.7
2015 2024 123.0 16.4 67.3
2016 2055 116.0 17.7 71
2017 2051 115.0 17.8 68.8
2018 2022 117.4 17.2 68.3
2019 1883 117.5 16.0 67.1
2020 1858 118.0 15.7 60.3
2021 1818 112.0 16.2 59.5
2022 1802 121.0 14.8 67.6
2023 1838 104.0 17.6 84.2
2024 1878 107.0 17.5 76.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Gaffney High

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1561 62.6 24.9 n/a
1989 1487 60.6 24.5 n/a
1990 1407 66.8 21.0 n/a
1991 1355 66.6 20.3 16.2
1992 1371 65.3 20.9 18.5
1993 1377 59.0 23.3 21.6
1994 1406 62.4 22.5 24.5
1995 1360 64.0 21.3 19.4
1996 1360 64.0 21.3 19.4
1997 1425 64.0 22.3 21.5
1998 1381 64.0 21.6 35
1999 1335 65.4 20.4 24.3
2000 1306 71.4 18.3 27
2001 1955 97.6 20.0 33.4
2002 1975 116.5 17.0 41.9
2003 1975 116.5 17.0 41.9
2004 2066 130.5 15.8 48
2005 2079 130.5 15.9 46.5
2006 2041 132.2 15.4 48
2007 2072 160.7 12.9 49.9
2008 2091 126.5 16.5 54.7
2009 2127 119.0 17.9 54.7
2010 2063 112.0 18.4 45.7
2011 2061 115.0 17.9 61.8
2012 2051 112.0 18.3 60.8
2013 1995 116.5 17.1 62.4
2014 2024 115.0 17.6 63.7
2015 2024 123.0 16.4 67.3
2016 2055 116.0 17.7 71
2017 2051 115.0 17.8 68.8
2018 2022 117.4 17.2 68.3
2019 1883 117.5 16.0 67.1
2020 1858 118.0 15.7 60.3
2021 1818 112.0 16.2 59.5
2022 1802 121.0 14.8 67.6
2023 1838 104.0 17.6 84.2
2024 1878 107.0 17.5 76.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Gaffney High

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $544 (5.8%) $411 (4.4%) $956 (10.2%) $7,180 (76.7%) $1,230 (13.1%) $8,410 (89.8%) $9,365
2020 $509 (4.9%) $405 (3.9%) $914 (8.8%) $7,857 (76.1%) $1,560 (15.1%) $9,416 (91.2%) $10,330
2021 $665 (5.9%) $444 (4.0%) $1,108 (9.9%) $8,715 (78.0%) $1,355 (12.1%) $10,070 (90.1%) $11,178
2022 $765 (6.6%) $840 (7.2%) $1,605 (13.8%) $8,633 (74.3%) $1,376 (11.8%) $10,008 (86.2%) $11,613
2023 $931 (6.7%) $1,661 (12.0%) $2,592 (18.8%) $9,514 (68.8%) $1,714 (12.4%) $11,229 (81.2%) $13,821

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Gaffney High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 176th of 225 High schoolsRanks 198th of 237 High schools
 5.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Gaffney High)37.749.3
 11.6%
   End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Cherokee 01)54.855.9
 1.1%
   End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Carolina)68.668.3
 0.3%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (Gaffney High)53.139.5
 13.6%
   End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (Cherokee 01)52.240.2
 12%
   End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (South Carolina)67.259.1
 8.1%
End of Course English 1 (Gaffney High)64.472.2
 7.8%
   End of Course English 1 (Cherokee 01)70.472.7
 2.3%
   End of Course English 1 (South Carolina)78.984
 5.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students18831838
 2.4%
African American583568
 2.6%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian2633
 26.9%
Hispanic141198
 40.4%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White11151008
 9.6%
Two or More Races1531
 106.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients67.1%84.2%
 17.1%


Schools Near Gaffney High









Frequently Asked Questions about Gaffney High

Gaffney High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : B. D. Lee Elementary
Elementary : Corinth Elementary
Elementary : Draytonville Elementary
Elementary : Grassy Pond Elementary
Elementary : Limestone-Central Elementary
Elementary : Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
Elementary : Northwest Elementary
Middle : Gaffney Middle
Middle : John E. Ewing Middle

Students at Gaffney High are 54% White, 30% African American, 12% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Gaffney High ranks in the bottom 13.6% of South Carolina high schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,878 students attended Gaffney High.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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