Original Research by School Decision on Ninety Six High
Ninety Six High is a regular public high school serving grades nine through twelve in the small town of Ninety Six, part of Greenwood County School District 52. The school is the only public high school operating in the district, and its enrollment places it at a moderate size for a four-year high school. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Black minority and smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic circumstances many families in the area face. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in this report.
The most significant gap in this profile is academic performance. State testing results for this school were not provided, and the four-year graduation rate was also absent. Without those core metrics, it is not possible to describe the school’s overall academic standing, student proficiency, or how many students complete high school on time. The same absence applies to chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing data. The available data does not explain why these measures are missing; a parent or resident interested in academic outcomes should ask the school or district directly for that information. Comparisons to other high schools in Greenwood County could not be drawn because the key metrics were not available.
Ninety Six itself is a small, primarily residential town with a history tied to textile mills that have since closed. A revitalization effort began in the early 2000s, and in recent decades the town has leaned on tourism to the Ninety Six National Historic Site and nearby Lake Greenwood State Park, along with local events like the Festival of Stars. The downtown is compact, centered on Main Street, with town offices and a visitors center. Employment within the town is limited; many residents commute to the larger city of Greenwood, about a short drive west. Population growth has been very slow, and the housing market reflects that: home values are well below both state and national benchmarks, making the area relatively affordable for buyers. Rents also appear moderate.
The district itself, Greenwood 52, serves the Ninety Six area. A search for recent district-level changes or strategic priorities turned up little of lasting impact, so this narrative does not attempt to describe district initiatives that may not be current or verified.
What this adds up to is a school that sits in a quiet, slowly growing town with an affordable housing market. The student body is majority low-income, and the demographic mix is reflective of the surrounding community. But without state test results or a graduation rate, the most basic questions about academic performance remain unanswered. Families considering Ninety Six High would need to seek that information from the school or district office before making decisions based on academic outcomes.
See more original research from School Decision →