The Darlington County School District  provides challenging and differentiated instruction each day for more than 10,000 students in 23 schools and Adult Education programs. All schools and the district are fully accredited on the state and national level by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancED and the S.C. Department of Education. We work to build a culture that is rooted in understanding our students and our communities. We understand the importance of students knowing how to learn, and our processes are built upon that foundation. Our district is helping all students develop the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate’s World Class Skills by embracing the concept of a 21st Century education.

In addition to standard classes, DCSD offers middle school magnet programs in the arts, sciences, mathematics, and technology. Our high schools offer an International Baccalaureate school, an early college degree program, a top-ranked STEM school, and the Darlington County Institute of Technology (DCIT), a world-class facility offering career and technical courses with professional certification tracks. DCIT strives to build a highly skilled professional workforce for Darlington County and beyond by working with business and industry to provide work-based learning experiences for our students. The District seeks to align workforce needs with education initiatives, providing innovative and motivated high school students with paid internships and apprenticeship opportunities with our business partners.

Dr. Tim Newman, DCSD Superintendent

Darlington County School District provides a technology-rich education in a 1-to-1 environment, providing every student K-12 with a personal learning device. Students in grades 3-12 are able to bring the devices home and our district is moving toward a blended learning model of instruction. We also provide teachers with cutting-edge tools, training, and resources to best utilize the digital learning environment and incorporate instructional technology strategies into our lesson plans. Our district offers computer-based programs to evaluate and differentiate instruction, online coursework, and online credit-recovery tools for our students.

Outside of the classroom, we strive to create and sustain opportunities for our students to play a role in our greater community while utilizing the World Class Skills. Our schools emphasize collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking through successful athletics programs, special interest clubs and partnerships with charities and civic organizations.

In Darlington County School District we are building a world-class education system by focusing on the needs of every child, every day.

The Darlington County School District has the highest graduation rate in the state, as ranked by the South Carolina Department of Education. The district”s graduation rate is 91.5%, compared to the state average of 88.1%. (Based on the 2019 Annual District Report Cards released by the South Carolina Department of Education)

See the latest scores and report cards for the district and individual schools here.

• The Darlington County School District has the 4th lowest dropout rate in South Carolina (0.4%), according to the South Carolina Department of Education. When talking about dropout rates, the lower the rates, the fewer the dropouts.

•  The Darlington County School District ranks sixth among the 84 South Carolina school districts in terms of academic achievement, according to the annual report card ratings issued by the South Carolina Department of Education.

•  In every high school in our district, more than nine out of every ten high school freshmen will graduate in four years, according to the South Carolina Department of Education. Mayo High School for Math, Science & has a 100% graduation rate.

•  More children are reading at or above grade level by grade three, thanks to the efforts of our primary schools (grades K-2). Reading at or above grade level by third grade ensures children have a better chance of success later in school.

•  Of the 22 schools in the district, nine schools and the school district have received the highest rating of  “Excellent” on the 2013 annual report cards issued by the South Carolina Department of Education.

•  96% of DCSD schools are rated “Average” or higher on the 2013 annual report cards from the South Carolina Department of Education. Rosenwald Elementary/Middle School is ranked Average for the elementary portion of the school and Below Average for the middle school portion of the school.

The Darlington County Board of Education meets on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Training Room of the DCSD Administration Building, located at 120 E. Smith Avenue, Darlington.

Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School is a college preparatory school of academic excellence rooted in the faith, values and caring of the Judeo-Christian tradition just 7 miles from downtown Darlington on a rural 100-acre campus.

Founded in 1995 as Trinity Collegiate School, TBCS enrolls approximately 200 college bound students in grades 7-12. The school fosters development of every student’s intellect and character through strong academics, a wide range of athletics, and extracurricular activities. The school holds dual accreditation by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) boasts state-of-the-art technology that mirrors what students will find in the workplace with more than 75 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that lead to careers in business, engineering technology, health care, human services, manufacturing, and more. Its modern 240-acre campus between Florence and Darlington offers quality educational programs that support economic development.
FDTC also offers the College Transfer Program for students with aspirations of transferring to a four-year institution and an Online College for the flexibility to attend classes when it is convenient for you.

Coker University (formerly Coker College) is a private, co-ed four-year liberal arts college located in neighboring Hartsville. The college offers a four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review.

Francis Marion University (formerly Francis Marion College) is a state-supported liberal arts university located 15 miles (11 km) east of Darlington. It is named in honor of American Revolutionary War hero Brigadier General Francis Marion.

The University offers a broad range of undergraduate degrees and a select number of graduate programs in serving the needs of communities, businesses and industries of the Pee Dee region. Francis Marion is the only state university located in the Pee Dee region, and many of its students are the first in their families to go to college.

FMU offers an excellent learning environment, small enough to afford students personalized attention from faculty and staff, and large enough to let students expand their horizons. All faculty members have advanced degrees, and 81 percent of the full-time faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees.