Florence 03, SC - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Florence 03

Florence 03 is a public school district in Florence County, South Carolina, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district covers a cluster of small towns including Lake City, Olanta, Scranton, and Coward, which together form a modest-sized school system for its grade span. Its enrollment is composed primarily of Black students, with a substantial white minority and smaller shares of Hispanic and multiracial students. Information on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as special education and English learner counts, was not available in the data we examined.

On state assessments, the district’s results paint a mixed picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through eight ranged from slightly below half to just over half of students meeting the bar, with the strongest performance in third and fifth grades and weaker results in seventh and eighth grades. In mathematics, proficiency was consistently lower, falling further as students moved through the grades, with particularly low rates in seventh and eighth grades. Science results, available for fourth and sixth grades, were also below half. Social studies data is from a prior assessment year and showed about half of tested fifth graders and a smaller share of seventh graders reaching proficiency. When compared to the other two districts in Florence County, Florence 03 sits in the bottom quarter on an overall proficiency index that averages these subjects and grades. A parent considering this district may want to visit individual schools to understand the academic experience firsthand, especially as the district includes a magnet school, J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet, which could offer a different academic focus.

Chronic absenteeism, a measure of students missing substantial school days, is a concern here. The district’s rate places it below the midpoint among the county’s three districts, meaning it is higher than some peers. This is an area a family may wish to discuss with school administrators to understand what supports are in place. On the financial side, the district spends more per student than the other two county districts, landing in the upper range of the small cohort.

The housing market across the communities served by Florence 03 is relatively affordable compared to national and state benchmarks. Home values in the district’s zip codes vary, with some areas showing modest growth and others more notable increases. This affordability may appeal to families looking for lower-cost options in the region.

The district operates eight schools: an early childhood center, four elementary schools, a junior high, a high school (Lake City High), and the magnet school. No major changes affecting families, such as boundary adjustments or program launches, were found in publicly available research for the recent period. A family moving into the area would find a district with above-average spending relative to its county peers but below-average test performance, a mix that may reflect the economic and demographic challenges of the communities it serves. For those seeking a more traditional academic profile, the magnet school could be worth investigating. For others, the district’s size and rural setting may be a comfortable fit.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,908

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 62%

White 28%

Asian 0%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

55%

75%

Gr 4

49%

—

Gr 5

53%

72%

Gr 6

45%

—

Gr 7

40%

—

Gr 8

36%

46%

Math

Gr 3

41%

75%

Gr 4

33%

—

Gr 5

29%

48%

Gr 6

25%

—

Gr 7

14%

—

Gr 8

13%

38%

Science

Gr 4

29%

—

Gr 6

24%

—

Schools in this District

8 schools are officially reported under this district.

Main Street Elementary

J. C. Lynch Elementary

Olanta Elementary

Scranton Elementary

Lake City High

Lake City Early Childhood Center

Ronald E. McNair Jr. High

J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

32%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

26%

Grade 6

14%

Grade 7

16%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

56%

Grade 3

48%

Grade 4

56%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

40%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

29%

Grade 4

27%

Grade 6

Social Studies

2 grades reported

52%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 7

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$137,212

Year-over-year change+5.3%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$127K to $158K

vs. state typical0.45x

vs. national typical0.37x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
29560	Lake City	$129K	+0.9%	39.1%
29591	Scranton	$137K	+7.3%	29.1%
29530	Coward	$158K	+13.3%	21.2%
29114	Olanta	$127K	-0.3%	10.6%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$692/mo

Home price / national median income1.6x

Comparison

State typical home value$305,174 (+0.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.