Orangeburg, SC - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Orangeburg

Orangeburg is a sprawling PK-through-12 district covering a large portion of Orangeburg County in South Carolina's Lowcountry region. With an enrollment that makes it one of the larger districts in the area, it serves a student population that is predominantly Black, with a significant minority of white students and smaller shares of Hispanic and multiracial students. The district operates more than two dozen schools scattered across the county, from the town of Orangeburg itself to outlying communities like Holly Hill, Branchville, Elloree, and Bowman.

The district's academic results are a central consideration for any family weighing a move into the area. Across the board, state test scores in math, English language arts, and science show proficiency rates that are well below the state average. In English language arts, proficiency rates by grade level range roughly between a third and two-fifths of students, with the fifth grade performing the strongest and the sixth grade the weakest. Math results are a more consistent area of struggle, with proficiency rates dropping notably as students move into middle school. By seventh and eighth grade, only about a tenth of students are meeting the state's proficiency bar in math. Science scores also fall into a low range, with fewer than a third of tested students reaching proficiency. A parent should look into these results further with the district to understand what academic interventions and supports are in place, particularly in the middle grades where the math scores show a sharp decline. The district's graduation rate was not available in the data provided.

The housing market across this district is notably affordable when compared to national and state benchmarks. The weighted average home value for the district sits well below the state median, and rents in the Orangeburg zip code are modest. With a typical household income in the region that is below the national figure, housing costs a relatively low share of that income, making this a market where homeownership is accessible to many families. However, the wide geography of the district means that home values vary considerably by zip code, from some of the lowest in the county to pockets of higher value near towns or lakes. A family relocating here would likely find that their housing dollar goes further than in much of the rest of the state, but the trade-off is a long drive to reach some of the district's far-flung schools.

The district's schools are spread across the county, with several small elementary schools feeding into larger middle and high schools in the main population centers. A parent may want to pay close attention to which school their address is zoned for, as the experience of a student at a smaller rural elementary school may differ significantly from that of a student attending one of the larger schools in the town of Orangeburg. The district's profile is that of a traditional public school system in a rural and small-town setting, with all the hallmarks of a countywide system that must serve a diverse array of communities with varying economic bases.

No recent district-wide changes or strategic initiatives were publicly reported, so the district's direction is hard to assess from available materials. A family considering Orangeburg should plan to ask direct questions about the district's current academic improvement plans, particularly in math, and about what programs and supports are available for students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards. The district has a broad geographic reach and a student body that reflects the county's demographics, and it operates within a housing market that is notably affordable by state and national standards.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

10,620

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

Black 74%

White 17%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

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

37%

62%

Gr 4

37%

67%

Gr 5

41%

70%

Gr 6

32%

51%

Gr 7

37%

69%

Gr 8

32%

59%

Math

Gr 3

37%

68%

Gr 4

28%

60%

Gr 5

30%

61%

Gr 6

17%

37%

Gr 7

10%

39%

Gr 8

10%

33%

Science

Gr 4

24%

58%

Gr 6

23%

40%

Schools in this District

28 schools are officially reported under this district.

Edisto Elementary

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Elementary

Bethune-Bowman Elementary

Bethune-Bowman Middle/High

Holly Hill Elementary

Vance-Providence Elementary

Orangeburg Wilkinson High

Lake Marion High School

Holly Hill-Roberts Middle

St. James-Gaillard Elementary

Robert E. Howard Middle

William J. Clark Middle

Rivelon Elementary

Mellichamp Elementary

Lake Marion Technology Center

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

32%

Grade 4

34%

Grade 5

19%

Grade 6

13%

Grade 7

13%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

41%

Grade 4

45%

Grade 5

34%

Grade 6

40%

Grade 7

35%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

28%

Grade 4

25%

Grade 6

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$158,283

Year-over-year change+2.5%

Range across 21 ZIP codes$101K to $244K

vs. state typical0.52x

vs. national typical0.43x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (21 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
29115	Orangeburg	$124K	-1.1%	11.3%
29112		$118K	+0.5%	9.6%
29059	Holly Hill	$195K	+4.2%	9.4%
29018	Bowman	$134K	+4.1%	9.3%
29038	Cope	$162K	+6.9%	7.6%
29432	Branchville	$150K	-2.5%	6.6%
29118	Orangeburg	$232K	+2.2%	6.4%
29107		$122K	+4.8%	6.3%
29142	Santee	$243K	+2.3%	4.6%
29048	Eutawville	$199K	+7.6%	4.0%

Showing top 10 of 21 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,175/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
29115	Orangeburg	$1,175	—	11.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$799/mo

Home price / national median income1.9x

Annual rent / national median income16.8%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$376/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.