Original Research by School Decision on Andrews High
Andrews High is a regular public high school serving grades nine through twelve in the small rural town of Andrews, part of the Georgetown County School District. The town itself spans two counties and has a history rooted in railroad and lumber industries that peaked in the early twentieth century. Population has declined since then, and the town’s economy shifted away from those industries. Today, Andrews retains a compact downtown core and a residential fabric typical of a small Southern town. Schools are integrated into the community; Andrews High shares the town with an elementary and a middle school, and a private Christian academy is also available.
The student body reflects the town’s demographics. A majority of students are Black, with a substantial white population and smaller shares of Hispanic students and students of two or more races. The entire student population qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a community where economic need is widespread. That is the one piece of the school’s profile that is clearly documented in available data.
State testing results were not available in the data we reviewed for this school. That is a significant gap for a high school, where parents often look at proficiency rates in subjects like English, math, and science to gauge academic performance. The data also did not include a graduation rate, which is a standard metric for any high school. Both of these measures are missing from what was reported here. A parent interested in Andrews High should ask the school or district directly for the most recent test scores and graduation numbers. Those figures may exist but were not part of the source material we had.
The school’s location in the Georgetown County district means that, when considered against other districts in the county, no comparison is possible because there is only one district (Georgetown 01). The district itself is large and includes multiple towns, but for Andrews High the only neighboring district comparison would be within the same district across schools — and that data was not provided either.
Housing in the Andrews area is notably more affordable than state and national averages. Home values are below the South Carolina median, and monthly mortgage and rent costs are moderate relative to income. The town’s population decline suggests limited new housing development, but the lower cost of living may appeal to families seeking a more rural setting without high housing expenses.
The district has made some pedagogical changes in recent years, such as converting Plantersville Elementary to a Digital Immersion School that integrates immersive technology. That is an elementary-level initiative, but it signals that the district is investing in new approaches to learning elsewhere. No similar changes were reported for Andrews High itself.
The school does not appear to be a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not provided. No data was available on course access, staffing, discipline, or attendance. For a family considering this school, the unknowns are substantial. The core academic outcomes — how students perform on state assessments, how many graduate, how many pursue college or career pathways — are not documented here. The school’s program offerings, if any, were also absent from the data.
Andrews High serves a community where nearly every student comes from a low-income household, and the school is a longstanding institution in a town that has seen better economic days. The limited available information makes it difficult to assess the academic pathway it provides. A family would need to seek out direct conversations with the school, review report cards from the South Carolina Department of Education, and understand what supports are in place for students in a high-poverty setting. Without those details, the picture remains incomplete.
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