South Middle

Summary:

South Middle is a public middle school in Lancaster, South Carolina, serving 534 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Lancaster 01 District, which is ranked 30 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

South Middle has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state averages in standardized test scores, with only 33.1% of 6th graders, 25.6% of 7th graders, and 18.7% of 8th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, and even lower proficiency rates in mathematics. The school's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from 205 out of 317 schools in 2016-2017 to 299 out of 325 schools in 2023-2024, earning it a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. South Middle's performance is particularly concerning for African American, Hispanic, and low-income students, who lag behind their peers at the school and across the state.

When compared to other middle schools in the area, such as Indian Land Middle, which consistently outperforms South Middle and has a 4-star rating, the stark differences in academic achievement are evident. The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at South Middle, 100% in recent years, suggests that the school faces significant challenges in providing a high-quality education for its economically disadvantaged student population. Addressing these equity concerns and reversing the declining performance trends will be crucial for improving outcomes at South Middle.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1551 Billings Drive
       Lancaster, SC  29720


(803) 283-8416

District: Lancaster 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
299th of 325 South Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,852 Help


Students who attend South Middle usually attend:

High:    Lancaster High

Feeder schools for South Middle:

Elementary:    Brooklyn Springs Elementary
    Erwin Elementary
    McDonald Green Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  14.0 Help
Number of students:  492

Racial breakdown:

African American:
49.0%
White:
22.8%
Hispanic:
21.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details South Middle ranks worse than 92% of middle schools in South Carolina. It also ranks last among 5 ranked middle schools in the Lancaster 01 School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.91. (See more...)
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
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Compare Details Student population at South Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (49%), White (22.8%), Hispanic (21.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Middle is 14, which is the lowest among 6 middle schools in the Lancaster 01 School District! (See more...)
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Compare South Middle employs 35 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Middle is $10,852. 3 middle schools in the Lancaster 01 School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks South Middle 299th of 325 South Carolina public middle schools. (See South Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


Lancaster 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster 01 30th of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for South Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 31.36 167th 225 25.8%
2004 33.19 166th 230 27.8%
2005 29.68 176th 230 23.5%
2006 36.42 163rd 231 29.4%
2007 46.19 144th 236 39.0%
2008 46.48 151st 244 38.1%
2009 49.75 145th 249 41.8%
2010 41.05 178th 261 31.8%
2011 41.70 180th 269 33.1%
2012 38.29 187th 271 31.0%
2013 40.36 182nd 276 34.1%
2014 33.19 212th 291 27.1%
2015 34.46 208th 301 30.9%
2016 44.65 170th 303 43.9%
2017 37.05 205th 317 35.3%
2018 29.13 217th 303 28.4%
2019 27.66 236th 315 25.1%
2021 23.02 237th 311 23.8%
2022 14.09 273rd 310 11.9%
2023 11.74 298th 325 8.3%
2024 11.91 299th 325 8.0%
See the entire list of South Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.72 64th 93 31.2%
2019 38.14 73rd 117 37.6%
2021 36.79 54th 87 37.9%
2022 21.02 83rd 97 14.4%
2023 17.01 86th 95 9.5%
2024 13.31 100th 105 4.8%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.68 188th 280 32.9%
2019 36.67 190th 289 34.3%
2021 26.59 213th 288 26.0%
2022 17.60 268th 300 10.7%
2023 14.44 290th 313 7.3%
2024 14.10 285th 307 7.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.56 182nd 281 35.2%
2019 30.55 216th 296 27.0%
2021 23.01 216th 279 22.6%
2022 13.07 264th 290 9.0%
2023 12.77 275th 299 8.0%
2024 13.66 265th 294 9.9%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.04 114th 194 41.2%
2019 38.87 116th 195 40.5%
2021 11.47 164th 164 0.0%
2022 15.50 177th 183 3.3%
2023 17.76 175th 187 6.4%
2024 16.20 171st 177 3.4%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 27.13 154th 179 14.0%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.51 220th 284 22.5%
2019 25.96 227th 296 23.3%
2021 22.61 218th 279 21.9%
2022 15.49 260th 292 11.0%
2023 11.24 278th 303 8.3%
2024 10.33 279th 294 5.1%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.95 177th 237 25.3%
2019 27.45 203rd 252 19.4%
2021 26.91 189th 235 19.6%
2022 15.36 242nd 249 2.8%
2023 14.53 244th 253 3.6%
2024 18.01 228th 248 8.1%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.12 78th 123 36.6%
2019 43.82 86th 139 38.1%
2021 33.40 79th 111 28.8%
2022 25.67 103rd 129 20.2%
2023 20.30 120th 141 14.9%
2024 20.44 121st 144 16.0%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.09 163rd 250 34.8%
2019 34.58 171st 258 33.7%
2021 20.91 197th 244 19.3%
2022 8.61 237th 249 4.8%
2023 6.39 252nd 260 3.1%
2024 6.74 248th 255 2.7%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Middle 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.

South Middle 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 South Middle

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 492 227 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 719
1989 483 216 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 699
1990 448 225 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 673
1991 441 230 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 671
1992 449 215 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 664
1993 469 226 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 696
1994 478 265 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 743
1995 422 287 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 713
1996 422 287 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 713
1997 400 300 0 4 1 n/a n/a 0 705
1998 377 319 0 5 0 n/a n/a 0 701
1999 402 319 0 7 0 n/a n/a 0 728
2000 442 347 1 9 1 n/a n/a 0 800
2001 461 373 1 19 1 n/a n/a 0 855
2002 443 370 1 36 1 n/a n/a 0 851
2003 443 370 1 36 1 n/a n/a 0 851
2004 404 352 0 33 0 n/a n/a 0 789
2005 397 399 0 36 0 n/a n/a 0 832
2006 368 363 2 35 2 n/a n/a 0 770
2007 354 332 1 39 3 n/a n/a 0 729
2008 349 307 0 38 1 n/a n/a 2 697
2009 322 270 1 43 0 n/a n/a 3 639
2010 309 269 4 36 1 n/a n/a 2 621
2011 282 257 3 51 2 0 13 0 608
2012 255 269 3 48 2 0 10 0 587
2013 254 282 1 58 1 0 10 0 606
2014 229 267 1 68 2 0 11 0 578
2015 216 228 1 70 3 0 13 0 531
2016 188 220 1 68 2 0 16 0 495
2017 187 243 4 80 1 0 17 0 532
2018 191 249 1 98 1 0 16 0 556
2019 177 285 2 111 0 0 19 0 594
2020 199 298 2 124 1 0 24 0 648
2021 184 295 1 118 1 0 20 0 619
2022 168 284 0 121 1 0 26 0 600
2023 132 269 2 112 0 0 19 0 534
2024 112 241 3 107 1 0 28 0 492

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 South Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 719 39.2 18.3 n/a
1989 699 39.8 17.5 n/a
1990 673 38.7 17.3 n/a
1991 671 38.7 17.3 24.6
1992 664 37.7 17.6 25
1993 696 38.0 18.3 34.3
1994 743 46.0 16.2 38.4
1995 713 47.0 15.2 31.7
1996 713 47.0 15.2 31.7
1997 705 50.0 14.1 45.4
1998 701 48.0 14.6 47.4
1999 728 51.0 14.3 54.5
2000 800 48.0 16.7 50.3
2001 855 49.0 17.4 49.8
2002 851 56.0 15.2 52.1
2003 851 56.0 15.2 52.1
2004 789 56.0 14.1 61.5
2005 832 54.0 15.4 63.6
2006 770 59.4 13.0 61
2007 729 74.0 9.9 62.3
2008 697 56.4 12.4 62.2
2009 639 41.4 15.4 60.8
2010 621 43.0 14.4 68.3
2011 608 38.0 16.0 72
2012 587 38.0 15.4 75
2013 606 38.0 15.9 75.9
2014 578 38.0 15.2 78.9
2015 531 39.0 13.6 76.8
2016 495 39.0 12.6 80.4
2017 532 40.0 13.3 100
2018 556 40.0 13.9 100
2019 594 40.0 14.8 80.6
2020 648 40.0 16.2 99.5
2021 619 43.2 14.3 81.7
2022 600 40.4 14.8 100
2023 534 36.0 14.8 100
2024 492 35.0 14.0 100

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 South Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 719 39.2 18.3 n/a
1989 699 39.8 17.5 n/a
1990 673 38.7 17.3 n/a
1991 671 38.7 17.3 24.6
1992 664 37.7 17.6 25
1993 696 38.0 18.3 34.3
1994 743 46.0 16.2 38.4
1995 713 47.0 15.2 31.7
1996 713 47.0 15.2 31.7
1997 705 50.0 14.1 45.4
1998 701 48.0 14.6 47.4
1999 728 51.0 14.3 54.5
2000 800 48.0 16.7 50.3
2001 855 49.0 17.4 49.8
2002 851 56.0 15.2 52.1
2003 851 56.0 15.2 52.1
2004 789 56.0 14.1 61.5
2005 832 54.0 15.4 63.6
2006 770 59.4 13.0 61
2007 729 74.0 9.9 62.3
2008 697 56.4 12.4 62.2
2009 639 41.4 15.4 60.8
2010 621 43.0 14.4 68.3
2011 608 38.0 16.0 72
2012 587 38.0 15.4 75
2013 606 38.0 15.9 75.9
2014 578 38.0 15.2 78.9
2015 531 39.0 13.6 76.8
2016 495 39.0 12.6 80.4
2017 532 40.0 13.3 100
2018 556 40.0 13.9 100
2019 594 40.0 14.8 80.6
2020 648 40.0 16.2 99.5
2021 619 43.2 14.3 81.7
2022 600 40.4 14.8 100
2023 534 36.0 14.8 100
2024 492 35.0 14.0 100

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 South Middle

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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 $869 (8.5%) $188 (1.8%) $1,057 (10.4%) $7,685 (75.6%) $1,431 (14.1%) $9,115 (89.6%) $10,172
2020 $790 (8.0%) $206 (2.1%) $996 (10.1%) $7,397 (75.0%) $1,472 (14.9%) $8,869 (89.9%) $9,865
2021 $565 (6.2%) $119 (1.3%) $685 (7.6%) $7,082 (78.3%) $1,275 (14.1%) $8,358 (92.4%) $9,042
2022 $895 (8.9%) $402 (4.0%) $1,298 (12.9%) $7,694 (76.2%) $1,109 (11.0%) $8,803 (87.1%) $10,101
2023 $1,026 (9.5%) $651 (6.0%) $1,677 (15.5%) $7,921 (73.0%) $1,254 (11.6%) $9,175 (84.5%) $10,852

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

Impact of COVID-19 on South Middle

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 236th of 315 Middle schoolsRanks 298th of 325 Middle schools
 16.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Science (South Middle)40.318.4
 21.9%
   6th Grade Science (Lancaster 01)48.743.3
 5.4%
   6th Grade Science (South Carolina)47.143
 4.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (South Middle)32.622.5
 10.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Lancaster 01)4254.2
 12.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)41.153.4
 12.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (South Middle)19.916.2
 3.7%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Lancaster 01)43.444.5
 1.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)43.936.7
 7.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (South Middle)32.526.8
 5.7%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Lancaster 01)4350.2
 7.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4450.1
 6.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (South Middle)18.78.1
 10.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Lancaster 01)34.534.4
 0.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)35.331
 4.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South Middle)36.132.4
 3.7%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Lancaster 01)45.748.3
 2.6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)44.553.1
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (South Middle)18.78.4
 10.3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Lancaster 01)36.233.1
 3.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)36.631.6
 5%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Middle)97.994.3
 3.6%
   End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Lancaster 01)71.764.6
 7.1%
   End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Carolina)68.668.3
 0.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students594534
 10.1%
African American285269
 5.6%
American Indian00
Asian22
Hispanic111112
 0.9%
Pacific Islander00
White177132
 25.4%
Two or More Races1919
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients80.6%100%
 19.4%


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Frequently Asked Questions about South Middle

South Middle ranks in the bottom 8.0% of South Carolina middle schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 492 students attended South Middle.

Students at South Middle are 49% African American, 23% White, 22% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

Students who attend South Middle usually go on to attend Lancaster 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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