York 04, SC - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on York 04

York 04 is the school district serving the Fort Mill area of York County, South Carolina, a fast-growing suburban region just south of Charlotte. It is a large district, enrolling students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across twenty schools, including multiple elementary, middle, and high schools. The academic picture is strong, particularly in English language arts. Across every tested grade from third through eighth, the share of students scoring proficient or above on the state's SC Ready assessments is high, landing consistently around eight in ten students. Math proficiency is solid as well, though it runs at a lower level—roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of students meet the bar depending on grade, with the highest marks in the early elementary years and a slight dip in middle school. Science, tested in fourth and sixth grades, shows about seven in ten students proficient. Social studies data is older (from a few years ago) and reflects a different assessment; those results were very high but may not be directly comparable to current tests. The district also changed its ELA and science cut scores recently, so direct year-over-year trend comparisons are not possible from the available data. A graduation rate was not reported in this data set, so that important metric is absent from the picture.

The student body is large and predominantly white, with a sizable Asian population as well as notable shares of Hispanic and Black students. A smaller but visible group identifies as two or more races. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available. Free or reduced-price lunch counts were also missing, so the economic composition of the student population is not directly described here. Chronic absenteeism, however, is low—a strong point that the district shares with the best-performing schools in the county.

The community context is one of growth and affluence. Housing values in the district's zip codes (Fort Mill and Tega Cay) are well above the statewide and national medians. Rents are correspondingly high. Home prices have been relatively stable in the most recent data, with a small year-over-year decline. The typical mortgage payment would be a substantial share of income, though the area's median household income is notably higher than the national figure. This is a relatively expensive housing market, which shapes who can afford to live in the attendance zone.

Compared with other districts in York County, York 04 stands out on overall academic proficiency, placing in the top quartile among the county's four districts. Its chronic absenteeism rate is also among the best in the county, in the top quartile. On per-pupil spending, however, the district falls in the lower range among its county peers, which may reflect its rapid enrollment growth and the challenge of scaling operations efficiently.

That growth is the dominant story for families considering this district. The district has been the fastest-growing in South Carolina, and it has responded with major capital investments. In a recent year, voters approved a bond referendum to fund construction of a new elementary school, a new middle school, and facility upgrades, with the district stating the bond would not raise property taxes. This directly addresses capacity strain. The district has also conducted redistricting to accommodate new school openings and balance enrollment, meaning attendance boundaries have shifted for multiple schools. Families moving into the area should be aware that zoned schools may change as the district continues to add buildings and adjust lines.

For a parent or resident, York 04 offers strong academic foundations, especially in reading and writing, a relatively affluent peer environment, and a district that is actively building to keep pace with demand. The trade-offs include a housing market that is expensive for the region, spending that is modest relative to other county districts, and a landscape of ongoing boundary adjustments that could affect school assignment. The missing graduation rate and student support data leave some questions unanswered that a family may want to explore directly with the district.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

18,396

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 12%

Black 10%

White 60%

Asian 11%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

63%

89%

Gr 4

63%

88%

Gr 5

62%

88%

Gr 6

64%

88%

Gr 7

65%

88%

Gr 8

61%

85%

Math

Gr 3

55%

84%

Gr 4

54%

81%

Gr 5

41%

73%

Gr 6

43%

76%

Gr 7

41%

72%

Gr 8

48%

71%

Science

Gr 4

46%

77%

Gr 6

51%

82%

Schools in this District

20 schools are officially reported under this district.

Gold Hill Elementary

Gold Hill Middle

Orchard Park Elementary

Springfield Elementary

Sugar Creek Elementary

Pleasant Knoll Elementary

Banks Trail Middle

Doby's Bridge Elementary

Tega Cay Elementary

Pleasant Knoll Middle

Catawba Ridge High School

River Trail Elementary

Kings Town Elementary

Forest Creek Middle

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

77%

Grade 3

76%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

68%

Grade 6

64%

Grade 7

66%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

84%

Grade 3

83%

Grade 4

83%

Grade 5

82%

Grade 6

82%

Grade 7

80%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

70%

Grade 4

75%

Grade 6

Social Studies

2 grades reported

91%

Grade 5

87%

Grade 7

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$521,227

Year-over-year change-0.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$489K to $580K

vs. state typical1.71x

vs. national typical1.42x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
29715	Fort Mill	$489K	-0.7%	64.8%
29708	Fort Mill	$580K	+0.2%	35.2%
29707	Fort Mill	$546K	-2.9%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,737/mo

Year-over-year change-0.7%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,665 to $1,870/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
29715	Fort Mill	$1,665	-1.6%	64.8%
29708	Fort Mill	$1,870	+1.0%	35.2%
29707	Fort Mill	$1,790	+2.5%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,630/mo

Home price / national median income6.2x

Annual rent / national median income24.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$893/mo

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.